check 1 of 2

noun

Definition of checknext
1
as in bill
the amount owed at a bar or restaurant or the slip of paper stating the amount diners at that temple of gastronomy often look shocked when they receive the check

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in inspection
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition made a careful check of the antique table before buying it

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in statement
a record of goods sold or services performed together with the costs due request a detailed check from the company before sending any money

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4
as in ticket
a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) handed over a check for his coat

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5
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice the judiciary is intended to be a check on the executive and legislative branches of government

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in fissure
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure the network of fine checks on the surface would indicate that the painting is quite old

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7
as in halt
the stopping of a process or activity the announcement of bad news gave a sudden check to the celebration

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

check

2 of 2

verb

ˈchek How to pronounce check (audio)
1
as in to correspond
to be in agreement on every point their story of what happened checks with the report of the eyewitness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill a tree finally checked the skidding car

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to keep
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) check your enthusiasm a bit, and think before you marry someone you just met

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb check contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of check are bridle, curb, and restrain. While all these words mean "to hold back from or control in doing something," check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

trying to check government spending

In what contexts can bridle take the place of check?

While in some cases nearly identical to check, bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

bridle an impulse to throw the book down

When can curb be used instead of check?

Although the words curb and check have much in common, curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

learn to curb your appetite

Where would restrain be a reasonable alternative to check?

In some situations, the words restrain and check are roughly equivalent. However, restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

restrained themselves from laughing

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of check
Noun
Is there a $2,000 stimulus check coming in 2026? —Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026 Cash, check or credit card accepted. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
On the surface Kiner-Falefa checks a lot of boxes for the Red Sox. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 Homeowners should check with their city, county, or state government, as well as with the power company. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for check
Recent Examples of Synonyms for check
  1. bill
  2. inspection
  3. statement
  4. ticket
  5. restriction
  6. fissure
  7. halt
  8. correspond
Noun
  • While the bill doesn't include a dollar amount, DeLano said the plan is to request $50 million in appropriations later in the session.
    — ALEX ROZIER Mississippi Today, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Previous versions of the bill failed to gain traction in both chambers last year.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of bill
Noun
  • The inspection stems from a lawsuit filed by the Advocates for Human Rights in late January, which accuses federal agents at Whipple of denying detainees of their right to contact a lawyer.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • During routine inspection and maintenance, Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Watershed Protection staff determined that a portion of the original 1940s bypass — an infrastructure feature designed to manage Barton Creek flow — is now unsupported underneath and potentially unstable.
    — Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of inspection
Noun
  • The agency stood by its initial statement a few days after the shooting when contacted by CNN.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Dua Lipa and Callum Turner, as a powerhouse couple, that fall more in step with the likes of Hailey and Justin Bieber’s individual style statements than, say, Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet’s joint method dressing.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of statement
Noun
  • Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
    — USA Today staff, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Traffic jams and street closings Miami Beach police will be working key corridors to manage traffic flow, ease congestion and give tickets for violations.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of ticket
Noun
  • The company also points out that pigeons can operate in areas where drones face airspace restrictions.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The golden mussel is a serious threat, and officials say most boat owners seem to understand that and accept the new restrictions.
    — John Ramos, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of restriction
Noun
  • Recent protests amid corruption scandals, elite clan fissures, and governance failures suggest that nostalgia is again colliding with reality.
    — Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
  • This Colorado Avalanche season was nearly fissure-free during the first half.
    — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of fissure
Noun
  • This marked the end of the strike, which brought the San Francisco Unified School District to a halt for the first time in over 45 years.
    — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Doja Cat‘s South African homecoming may have been brought to a halt when Hey Neighbour festival canceled its 2025 staging, but the Grammy winner will finally get to visit her motherland this spring.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of halt
Verb
  • Moreover, the new subdivisions corresponded nicely to a map that Hintiryan and colleagues published in 2016 based on an entirely different technique, which traced connections between the caudoputamen and other regions.
    — Amber Dance, Quanta Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The system naturally tries to settle into its lowest-energy state, which corresponds to the best solution to the problem.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of correspond

Phrases Containing check

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cheats
check
checkable
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Cite this Entry

“Check.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/check. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on check

Nglish: Translation of check for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about check

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