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
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
Now, she name-checks fellow makeup artist, Nina Park, as someone who nails the look time and time again.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
Acknowledging his grandchildren on stage and name-checking his daughters Natacha and Dominique, Caine said his family was now his priority in life.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2025
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.
Verb
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
Now, she name-checks fellow makeup artist, Nina Park, as someone who nails the look time and time again.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
Acknowledging his grandchildren on stage and name-checking his daughters Natacha and Dominique, Caine said his family was now his priority in life.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Name-check.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/name-check. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
