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Definition of checknext
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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

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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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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
The shelter’s team handled over 21,000 service requests and made nearly 12,000 field responses in 2025, including more than 3,300 welfare checks, 1,100 bite reports and 3,600 animal pickups. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026 Certified technicians with the Texas Department of Transportation’s Fort Worth District Office also offer car seat safety checks. — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
People with food allergies or sensitivities should check their pantry for the affected products before using them. — Julia Hawkins, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026 Wu says two to three times a week, instead of nightly, works for many, but check with your dermatologist for their recommendation for your skin. — Lindy Segal, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for check
Recent Examples of Synonyms for check
Noun
  • The Senate has been addressing this week nominee confirmations and a bipartisan college sports bill to create standards on how athletes are paid, priorities that Republicans warn present poor optics to voters.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2026
  • There are two potential avenues Lee might take to get AB 1729 into law — a veto override or reintroducing the bill next year.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The inspections followed up on earlier issues that had caused concerns among local residents.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
  • With anti-cull sabotage ruled out, suspicion settled on the food-inspection agency.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in separate statements and expressed sorrow over the deaths.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Khaled Abdul Malek, who testified about being detained and tortured under Alsheikh’s direction, praised the sentence in a statement.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This year, 51 percent of ballet-ticket buyers were under the age of 50 with 20-somethings in the majority of those seats.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The winner told lottery officials that the $10 lottery ticket purchase was on a whim.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Hnin Aye read every news article about new passport restrictions and regulations, which seemed to change every month.
    — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The big question mark around these companies is whether the White House pushes through a ban or restriction on diesel fuel exports.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This fissure triggered one of the 21st century’s bloodiest wars in 2020 when federal forces attempted to wrestle control of the large province of Tigray, leaving up to 600,000 dead by the time a ceasefire deal was signed two years later.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Groundwater steadily rises through fissures in the limestone bedrock, providing the spring with a constant flow of pristine water.
    — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • And yet that life seems to have come to a halt for Elif, a respected poet who’s been stuck in a rut for a long time.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a halt on all environmental permits for data centers.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The coordinates of a vector in Hilbert space include information that corresponds to this alignment of peaks and troughs, called a wave’s phase.
    — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026
  • In corresponding moves, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Emmet Sheehan and catcher Eliézer Alfonzo to triple-A Oklahoma City.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Check.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/check. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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