check

verb

ˈchek 

checked; checking; checks

transitive verb

1

a

: to inspect, examine, or look at appraisingly or appreciatively

—usually used with out or over

The doctors checked him over for injuries.

checking out new cars

And so no, I won't help you to find a way to check out women in front of your wife.

—Amy Dickinson

b

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

needs to check her facts

c

: to look at (something) to obtain information

checking a watch to see the time

check a map/schedule

d

: 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

e

: to access (email, voicemail, etc.) to find out if there are messages

kept checking her voicemail throughout the day

f

: to mark with a check as examined, verified, or satisfactory

—often used with off

checked off each item

2

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)

3

: to leave or accept for safekeeping in a checkroom

check a coat

4

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

5

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

6

: to mark into squares : checker

check the cloth

7

: to put (a chess king) in check

8

: to make checks or chinks : cause to crack

the sun checks timber

9

chiefly dialectal : rebuke, reprimand

intransitive verb

1

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

2

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

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.

see also:

check into check that check up on

Synonyms of check

• correspond
• coincide
• conform
• agree
• fit
• go

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

The supply of properties that check all these boxes — functional ranch infrastructure, winery entitlements, the land and water profile that makes genuine self-sufficiency possible — is finite in ways that new construction can’t solve. —Lindsey Harn, Fortune, 6 June 2026

Ask a repair technician to check it out. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 June 2026

Lindsey Hodgson checking up on the new calves kept in different pens depending age. —Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

If not, give it another 30 minutes and check again before mowing. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cheken, checken "to put an opponent's king in check, stop, block," probably derivative of chek, chekke "announcement in chess that an opponent's king is in check, assault, adverse event" — more at check entry 2

Note: A French source is possible but uncertain. In the Oxford English Dictionary, first edition, the etymology of this verb cites "Old French eschequier, eschecquer" and "Old Northern French eskekier," without specification of sources. A form eskieka occurs in the Picard version (manuscript P) of the Old French narrative poem Guillaume d'Angleterre, but the meaning is not clear. Dictionnaire du Moyen Français has a verb eschequer with the meanings "go off, go away" (déguerpir) and "avoid, avert" (éviter) that appears to have no relation to chess.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 7

Phrases Containing check

• back-check
• bed check
• blank check
• blank check company
• body check
• bum check
• cashier's check
• certified check
• check back
• check back with
• check box
• check-in
• check into
• check in with
• check it out
• check mark
• check off
• check off on
• check on
• check out
• check over
• check/take/feel someone's pulse
• check that
• check through
• check up on
• check valve
• coat check
• coat-check/hat-check girl
• counter check
• cross-check
• cut a check
• double-check
• fact-check
• gut check
• hook check
• in check
• keep a close check on
• keep/hold in check
• name-check
• perpetual check
• pick up the tab/bill/check
• put a check on
• rain check
• reality check
• rubber check
• security check
• shepherd's check
• sound check
• spell-check
• spot-check
• traveler's check

Rhymes for check

• beck
• breck
• cheque
• czech
• deck
• fleck
• keck
• mech
• neck
• peck
• reck
• sec

Kids Definition

check

1 of 2 noun

ˈchek 

1

: the exposing of a chess king to attack

2

: a sudden stopping of progress

3

: something that delays, stops, or holds back : restraint

4

: examination sense 1, investigation

5

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

pay a bill by check

cash a check

6

a

: a ticket or token that shows that the bearer has a claim to something

a baggage check

b

: a slip of paper showing the amount due : bill

7

a

: a pattern of squares

b

: a fabric with such a design

8

: a mark ✓ placed beside an item to show it has been noted

check

2 of 2 verb

1

: to put a chess king in check

2

a

: to bring to a stop

to check an impulse

b

: to come to a stop

3

: to hold back : restrain, curb

checked her temper

4

a

: to make sure that something is correct or satisfactory

check your blood pressure

check it out with a teacher

b

: to inspect, examine, or look at

checking out new cars

checked over the damage

5

: to mark with a check

check the first item

6

: to mark with squares : checker

7

: to leave or accept for safekeeping or for shipment

check baggage

8

: to be the same on every point : tally

Etymology

Middle English chek "check (in chess), attack," from early French eschec (same meaning), from Arabic shāh "check (in chess)," from a Persian word meaning literally "king" — related to checker, chess

Legal Definition

check

noun

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

— cashier's 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