Noun & Verb A2 — Elementary

Point

/pɔɪnt/

Quick Definition

Noun: A specific idea or fact in a discussion; a sharp tip; a score; or a specific location. "That's a very good point."

Verb: To direct attention towards something, usually by extending a finger. "She pointed at the board."

Meaning and Usage

Point is one of the most versatile words in English, with many different meanings. In discussion or writing, a point is a specific argument or observation. In sports, a point is a unit of score. Physically, a point is a sharp tip or an exact location on a map.

As a verb, point at/to means to indicate direction or draw attention. The phrasal verb point out is very useful: it means to draw attention to a fact or detail ("She pointed out an error in my work").

Key expressions: make a point (raise an argument), to the point (relevant, concise), miss the point (fail to understand), what's the point? (what is the purpose?).

Point in Use

ContextExample sentenceMeaning
DiscussionShe made an excellent point about the budget.Argument/idea
SportsHe scored 15 points in the final quarter.Score
VerbThe teacher pointed to the map on the wall.Indicating direction

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

She pointed on the mistake in my essay.

She pointed out the mistake in my essay. (use the phrasal verb 'point out' for highlighting facts)

What is the point to study if I'll never use it?

What is the point of studying if I'll never use it? (use 'point of + gerund', not 'to + infinitive')

He said a very important point.

He made a very important point. (always 'make a point', not 'say a point')

Related Words

idea argument place focus reason All Words →

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Wordsearch Quiz

Frequently Asked Questions about "Point"

What does point mean in English?
Point has several meanings. As a noun: (1) a specific idea or fact: "That's a good point"; (2) a sharp tip: "the point of a pencil"; (3) a score: "She scored 10 points"; (4) a location: "We reached the meeting point." As a verb: to direct attention by extending a finger: "He pointed at the sign."
Is point a noun or a verb?
Point is both a noun and a verb. As a noun it has multiple meanings (idea, tip, score, location). As a verb it means to indicate direction, usually with a finger or an object. Both forms are common in everyday English. The noun form is more frequent.
What is the CEFR level of point?
Point is an A2 (Elementary) word. It appears very frequently across all registers and contexts — from casual conversation ("That's a good point") to academic writing ("The author makes the point that...") to sports ("She scored three points").
How do you pronounce point?
Point is pronounced /pɔɪnt/. It has one syllable. The vowel is the diphthong /ɔɪ/ as in "coin", "join", and "noise". Make sure to pronounce the final /t/ sound clearly.
What does 'what's the point?' mean?
"What's the point?" is an idiomatic expression meaning "What is the purpose or reason for doing this?" It expresses frustration or doubt about whether something is worthwhile: "What's the point of studying if I'm going to fail anyway?" It can also be a genuine question about purpose.
What are common collocations with point?
Common collocations: make a point, prove a point, good point, main point, key point, starting point, turning point, point out, to the point, miss the point, beside the point, at this point, score a point. Examples: "She made an excellent point." / "That's beside the point."
What is the difference between point and issue?
A point is a specific idea or argument raised in discussion: "I'd like to make a point about the budget." An issue is a broader topic or problem: "Funding is the main issue." You make a point about an issue. Points are smaller and specific; issues are larger and more general.
What are synonyms for point?
Synonyms for point (noun, idea): argument, detail, observation, remark, matter. Synonyms for point (noun, tip): tip, end, peak, spike. Synonyms for point (verb): indicate, direct, gesture, signal. The choice depends on meaning: use "argument" for a discussion point, "tip" for the physical end of something.
What common mistakes do learners make with point?
Common mistakes: "pointed on" instead of "pointed out" for highlighting facts; "what's the point to study" instead of "what's the point of studying" (use of + gerund); and "said a point" instead of "made a point" (always use "make a point", not "say a point").
How can I practise the word point?
Use LexFizz's Flash Cards to learn the different meanings of "point". Practise using "make a point", "good point", and "to the point" in writing. The Quiz exercises will test you on context — recognising which meaning of "point" applies is excellent vocabulary development.