variants
or namecheck
or name check
plural name-checks or namechecks or name checks
: a specific and usually public mention or acknowledgment of someone or something by name
It's not surprising that Chekhov gets a namecheck in Marion Bridge, which is playing in a superbly performed production through Aug. 25 at Hudson Village Theatre … . That Chekhov nod comes from boozy, disillusioned actress Agnes (Leni Parker), whose unsuccessful career has included appearing in plays by the Russian master …—
Jim Burke
Jim Burke[Marianne] Williamson began giving her talks in 1983 at the Philosophical Research Society on Los Feliz Boulevard (the nonprofit, which gets a name-check in McWilliam's chapter on the abundant flowering of Southern California occultism, is still in operation).—Julia Wick
Julia Wick
variants
or less commonly namecheck
name-checked also namechecked; name-checking also namechecking; name-checks also namechecks
: to mention or acknowledge (someone or something) specifically and publicly by name
… he is an avid collector of contemporary art, although he alone turns the pursuit to his singular ends in lyrics that knowingly name-check everyone from Jeff Koons to Jean-Michel Basquiat.—Guy Trebay
Guy Trebay"… I couldn't wait that long for another box of Shipley's," he said, name-checking the local doughnut shop that catered the event.—Mara Gay
Mara GayLast year, the show's fans successfully petitioned for McDonald's to bring back its limited-edition Szechuan sauce from 1998 after it was namechecked in an episode.—Luke Morgan Britton
Luke Morgan BrittonExamples of name-check in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
Robinson, meanwhile, delivered Leo a Chicago flag pin and remarked on how the pope was fluently hyperlocal, name-checking the Catholic school Robinson attended, Mount Carmel, even specific city streets such as Kedzie, Augusta and Damen.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
Now 46, the singer draws inspiration from the music that inspired her, name-checking Prince and the Gap Band, for a spate of upbeat tunes dotted by glittery synths, pummeling 808s and plucky bass notes.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 19 May 2026
Claudine Longet — chanteuse, alleged killer, and Gilmore Girls name-check — has died.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 May 2026
As such, Novak name-checked a number of glam literary (and literary-adjacent) powerhouses in his opening speech.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Polis even name-checked the program and Colorado’s best-in-the-nation childhood poverty rate in his final State of the State address — albeit, lumped in with a celebration of cuts to property taxes and income taxes.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
Plenty of Presidents don’t even get name-checked.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Newsom has recently started name-checking the Abundance movement, which aims to convince Democrats that overregulation and NIMBYism are holding back the growth of blue states.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
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Verb
Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and MSI were all name-checked.
—Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
Robinson, meanwhile, delivered Leo a Chicago flag pin and remarked on how the pope was fluently hyperlocal, name-checking the Catholic school Robinson attended, Mount Carmel, even specific city streets such as Kedzie, Augusta and Damen.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
Now 46, the singer draws inspiration from the music that inspired her, name-checking Prince and the Gap Band, for a spate of upbeat tunes dotted by glittery synths, pummeling 808s and plucky bass notes.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 19 May 2026
Claudine Longet — chanteuse, alleged killer, and Gilmore Girls name-check — has died.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 May 2026
As such, Novak name-checked a number of glam literary (and literary-adjacent) powerhouses in his opening speech.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Polis even name-checked the program and Colorado’s best-in-the-nation childhood poverty rate in his final State of the State address — albeit, lumped in with a celebration of cuts to property taxes and income taxes.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
Plenty of Presidents don’t even get name-checked.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Newsom has recently started name-checking the Abundance movement, which aims to convince Democrats that overregulation and NIMBYism are holding back the growth of blue states.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Name-check.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/name-check. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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