check

noun \ ˈchek \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of check

1 : exposure of a chess king to an attack from which he must be protected or moved to safety

with his king in check

2 a : a sudden stoppage of a forward course or progress : arrest

the outbreak of war in 1939 gave a sudden check to the sculptor's work
—Herbert Read

b : a checking of an opposing player (as in ice hockey)

3 : a sudden pause or break in a progression

the invaders coming in without a check

4 archaic : reprimand, rebuke

5 : one that arrests, limits, or restrains : restraint

against all checks, rebukes, and manners, I must advance
—William Shakespeare

6 a : a standard for testing and evaluation : criterion

b : examination

a quick check of the engine

c : inspection, investigation

a loyalty check on government employees

d : the act of testing or verifying

making a check on the data

; also : the sample or unit used for testing or verifying

7 : a written order directing a bank to pay money as instructed : draft

Do you want to pay in cash, by check, or by credit card?

8 a : a ticket or token showing ownership or identity or indicating payment made

a baggage check

b : a counter in various games

c : a slip indicating the amount due : bill

ask the waiter for the check

[Middle English chek, short for cheker checker]

a : a pattern in squares that resembles a checkerboard

bordered her plain shower curtain with a check in coordinating bathroom colors

b : a fabric woven or printed with such a design

Fashionable checks come in all sizes and colors in both twill and square weaves.

10 : a mark typically ✓ placed beside an item to show it has been noted, examined, or verified

11 : crack, break

—

checkless

play \ˈchek-ləs\ adjective

— in check

: under restraint or control

trying to keep his emotions in check

See check defined for kids

Examples of check in a Sentence

Please give the schedule a check to see if the times are correct.
I gave the ingredients list a quick check to see if the cereal contained any sugar.
She ran a quick check of the computer to make sure it was working properly.
The police ran a check on the license plate and found out that the car had been stolen.
He was penalized for an illegal check.
He made out the check to me and signed it, and I deposited it in my account.
Do you want to pay in cash, by check, or by credit card?
a fabric with a blue and yellow check

Recent Examples of check from the Web

Deputies went to the residence of Patrick and Sherry Palmer on Tuesday night to do a welfare check, after he had not been seen at work for several days.

— linda trischitta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Cops find woman dead and man unconscious in Pompano home," 18 Apr. 2018
One of Sarah Hart’s friends called 911 requesting a welfare check after receiving a suspicious text from Sarah and being unable to reach her on March 26.

— Essence.com, "Devonte Hart's Adoptive Mother Intoxicated, Children Possibly Drugged In Case Of Woman Who Drove Family Off Cliff," 17 Apr. 2018
Reiss’ husband was found dead after his business partner called police to conduct a welfare check on him.

— Fox News, "Woman who killed husband, stole another female's identity spotted on surveillance video, cops say," 16 Apr. 2018
Also on March 26, one of Sarah Hart's friends called 911 requesting a welfare check.

— eliott c. mclaughlin, CNN, "Drunk, drugged and possibly on the run: The Hart family's final days," 15 Apr. 2018
The meeting was focused on ways supporters can get involved to help enact what the group called common sense gun regulations such as universal background checks.

— frank vaisvilas, Daily Southtown, "Gun control meeting goes smoothly despite rifle group's 'urgent action alert' about Palos Heights event," 14 Apr. 2018
Steven’s mother, who originally called 911 for a welfare check, told dispatchers that her son had admitted to killing his baby, Katie, and Fusco.

— gabriella paiella, The Cut, "Father, Daughter, and Baby in Incest Case Found Dead in Murder-Suicide," 13 Apr. 2018
On Thursday morning, police in Knightdale, North Carolina, did a welfare check on the baby, Bennett, after Pladl’s mom called 911, Police Chief Lawrence Capps said at a Thursday news conference.

— harriet sokmensuer, PEOPLE.com, "Incest Suspect Went On Killing Spree of Daughter and Son After She Broke Up With Him," 13 Apr. 2018
Keener called Downey as a welfare check and prompted her mother to go to the emergency room.

— danny moran, OregonLive.com, "Christian Wallace nearly left Oregon State after family health scare, stayed at mother's advice," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'check.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of check

Middle English chek, from Anglo-French eschec, from Arabic shāh, from Persian, literally, king; akin to Greek ktasthai to acquire, Sanskrit kṣatra dominion

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

check Synonyms

check

verb

Definition of check

transitive verb

1 : to put (a chess king) in check

2 chiefly dialectal : rebuke, reprimand

3 a : to slow or bring to a stop : brake

hastily checked the impulse

b : to block the progress of (someone, such as a hockey player)

4 a : to restrain or diminish the action or force of : control

tried to thwart or check our purposes in the legislature

b : to slack or ease off (a rope) and then belay again

5 a : to compare with a source, original, or authority : verify

needs to check her facts

b : to inspect, examine, or look at appraisingly —usually used with out or over

checking out new cars

c : to mark with a check as examined, verified, or satisfactory —often used with off

checked off each item

d : to look at (something) to obtain information

checking a watch to see the time

check a map/schedule

e : to look or reach into (something) to find what is there

Harry glanced around at Fred, who was looking anxious and checking his pockets.
—J. K. Rowling

f : to access (e-mail, voice mail, etc.) to find out if there are messages

kept checking her voice mail throughout the day

6 a : to consign (something, such as luggage) to a common carrier from which one has purchased a passenger ticket

checked our bags before boarding

b : to ship or accept for shipment under such a consignment

7 : to mark into squares : checker

check the cloth

8 : to leave or accept for safekeeping in a checkroom

check a coat

9 : to make checks or chinks : cause to crack

the sun checks timber

intransitive verb

1 a of a dog : to stop in a chase especially when scent is lost

b : to halt through caution, uncertainty, or fear : stop

the train checked with a jolt
—B. A. Williams

2 a : to investigate conditions

checked on the passengers' safety

b : to prove to be consistent or truthful

the description checks with the photograph

—often used with out

the story checked out

c : to look at or in something to see or find what is there

check for messages on a cell phone

3 : to draw a check on a bank

4 : to waive the right to initiate the betting in a round of poker

5 : crack, split

Drying wood can cause it to check.

— check into

1 : to check in at

check into a hotel

2 : investigate

the police are checking into his alibi

— check that

informal

—used to take back or correct a previous statement

"Sir, I don't know why but there must be a foot or two of water coming down Claiborne. No, check that—three feet."
—Christopher Cooper and Robert Block

— check up on

: investigate

check up on a possible investment

See check defined for English-language learners

Examples of check in a Sentence

Make sure to check your spelling.
She checked her makeup in the mirror.
We should check the equipment to make sure that it's working properly.
The guards checked my passport.
He checked his watch and saw that it was almost noon.
I'll just check the map to see where we are.
I'll check the newspaper to see when the movie starts.
If you're looking for a spoon, check the top drawer.
I checked his office but he wasn't there.
If you're looking for the umbrella, check in the closet.

Recent Examples of check from the Web

In these cases, the field referee is now invited to check the validity of his decision on the screen.

— afp, chicagotribune.com, "German federation calls for more usage of VAR," 2 Nov. 2017
If your gal pal never makes an effort to check up on you via text, call, Facebook messenger, smoke signal, etc.

— jessica ariel wendroff, Teen Vogue, "5 Signs It's Time to Break Up With Your BFF," 2 Nov. 2017
So there’s such demand for investors to check the Boise market.

— john sowell, idahostatesman, "Why did a firm owned by one of the richest women in the U.S. just buy BoDo in Boise?," 31 Oct. 2017
Audiences were evacuated at seven cinemas in central Moscow, when police were forced to check for explosives after bomb threats were phoned in.

— nick holdsworth, The Hollywood Reporter, "Russia Box Office: Local-Language Disney Film Beats Controversial 'Matilda'," 30 Oct. 2017
When the timer goes off, check the eggs: the whites should be just set and opaque.

— sarah rense, Esquire, "A Completely Foolproof Guide to Perfectly Poaching an Egg," 30 Oct. 2017
If the separation worsens, make an appointment with your doctor to check things out.

— sarah kinonen, Allure, "People Are Ripping Off Their Ingrown Toenails and Filming It," 26 Oct. 2017
Some crematoriums use handheld metal detectors to check for undisclosed implants.

— melissa jayne kinsey, Slate Magazine, "Going Out With a Bang," 26 Oct. 2017
Twitter, for example, will ban official Russian news outlets while Facebook plans to do better fact-checking on its news feed and will reveal the sources of political ads.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "Social media shine a light on themselves," 4 Nov. 2017

Origin and Etymology of check

see ¹check

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

check Synonyms

Synonyms

bridle, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame;

Antonyms

lose;

Near Antonyms

liberate, loose, loosen, unleash;

air, express, take out, vent;

arrest, interrupt, stop;

block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct;

gag, muzzle, silence;

Synonym Discussion of check

restrain, check, curb, bridle mean to hold back from or control in doing something. restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

- restrained themselves from laughing

check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

- trying to check government spending

curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

- learn to curb your appetite

bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

- bridle an impulse to throw the book down

check

interjection

Definition of check

—used to express assent or agreement

First Known Use of check

1922

CHECK Defined for English Language Learners

check

verb

Definition of check for English Language Learners

: to look at (something) carefully to find mistakes, problems, etc., or to make sure there is nothing wrong with it
: to get information by looking at something, asking about something, etc.
: to look at or in (a place) in order to find or get something or someone

CHECK Defined for Kids

check

noun \ ˈchek \

Definition of check for Students

1 : a sudden stopping of progress : pause

The anchor gave a check to the ship's motion.

2 : something that delays, stops, or holds back

The new penalty will serve as a check on pollution.

3 : examination 1, investigation

a safety check

4 : a written order telling a bank to pay out money from a person's account to the one named on the order

5 : a ticket or token showing a person's ownership, identity, or claim to something

a baggage check

6 : a slip of paper showing the amount due

7 : a pattern in squares

The shirt has a blue and red check.

8 : a mark ✓ typically placed beside a written or printed item to show that something has been specially noted

9 : an act of hitting or stopping a player in hockey

10 : a situation in chess in which a player's king can be captured on the opponent's next turn

— in check

: under control

Try to keep your emotions in check.

check

verb

Definition of check for Students

checked; checking

1 : to slow or bring to a stop

A bandage checked the bleeding.

The batter checked his swing.

2 : to hold back or under control

You must check your temper.

3 : to make sure that something is correct or satisfactory

Don't forget to check your spelling.

I'll have to check the time with my mom.

4 : to get information by examining

He checked his watch.

5 : to mark with a check

Check the correct answer.

6 : to leave or accept for safekeeping or for shipment

check baggage

7 : to stop or hit (a player) in hockey

— check out

1 : to look at

Check out his new car.

2 : to borrow from a library

She checked out two books.

3 : to pay for purchases

Law Dictionary

check

noun

legal Definition of check

1 : something that limits or restrains — see also checks and balances

2 : a written order signed by its maker directing a bank to pay a specified sum to a named person or to that person's order on demand — see also negotiable instrument — compare draft

— bank check

: a check drawn by a bank on its deposits in another bank

— cashierʼs check

: a check drawn by a bank on its own funds and signed by the cashier or another bank official

— certified check

: a check certified to be good by the bank upon which it is drawn by the signature of usually the cashier or paying teller with the word certified or accepted across the face of the check

— NSF check

Not Sufficient Funds

: a check drawn on an account with insufficient funds from which to make payment