check 1 of 2

noun

Definition of checknext
1
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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2
as in inspection
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition made a careful check of the antique table before buying it

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3
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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7
as in halt
the stopping of a process or activity the announcement of bad news gave a sudden check to the celebration

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

check

2 of 2

verb

ˈchek How to pronounce check (audio)
1
as in to correspond
to be in agreement on every point their story of what happened checks with the report of the eyewitness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill a tree finally checked the skidding car

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to keep
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) check your enthusiasm a bit, and think before you marry someone you just met

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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
Through involuntary collections, the government can garnish wages, withhold tax refunds, and seize portions of Social Security checks and other benefit payments to go toward paying back the federal loan. —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 1 May 2025 But car buyers in 2021 were enjoying low interest rates and federal stimulus checks. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
Verb
Originally Published: May 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT Most Popular Most Popular Boater in fatal Florida ferry crash did not commit hit-and-run, attorneys say Central Florida home values surge, though not in Osceola; check how your ZIP fared Paragliders invade Orlando Wetlands! —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2025 Adams' attorney said in court that two weeks ago Adams voluntarily checked himself in to a hospital psychiatric unit. —Faith Abubey, ABC News, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for check
Recent Examples of Synonyms for check
  1. bill
  2. inspection
  3. statement
  4. ticket
  5. restriction
  6. fissure
  7. halt
  8. correspond
Noun
  • According to the nonpartisan group Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Trump's agenda items and the GOP's priorities in the bill are estimated to cost more than $11 trillion over the next ten years, which Republicans are working to offset by cutting spending in other areas.
    — Sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
  • Those who are watching this movement's legislative efforts closely believe there is little chance that any of these bills will become law anytime soon.
    — Odette Yousef, NPR, 8 May 2025
Definition of bill
Noun
  • The de minimis loophole allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to come into the United States duty-free, often skipping time-consuming inspections and paperwork.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
  • The bill, which now goes to governor for a signature, pushes back the deadline for completing a structural integrity inspection and allows condo associations a two-year grace period in fully funding reserves.
    — Greg Allen, NPR, 3 May 2025
Definition of inspection
Noun
  • Also: five pencils are enough The Chinese government did not immediately issue a statement on the negotiations or confirm whether a deal was struck.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 12 May 2025
  • Elisabeth Baeten, a Galaxy Zoo project volunteer from Leuven, Belgium, said in the statement.
    — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 11 May 2025
Definition of statement
Noun
  • The New York team will look to punch its ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night (May 14) in Boston, and the Celtics could be without superstar Jayson Tatum, who left the game with a lower leg injury late in the fourth quarter.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 May 2025
  • Spectators heading to matches can take advantage of the inclusion of public transport in their ticket and avoid the stress of driving and parking, save money and get into the festival atmosphere with other travelling fans.
    — Claire Poole, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Definition of ticket
Noun
  • This could involve direct negotiations with nations like the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia rather than applying broad regional restrictions.
    — Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2025
  • More information about the restrictions at Folsom Lake and nearby Lake Clementine is available on the State Parks’ website.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2025
Definition of restriction
Noun
  • But his return to center stage—or at least his self-invitation to it—is showing the fissures in a party that hasn’t fully decided if Biden is friend or foe, the party elder who stepped aside or the has-been who didn’t know when to exit.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 8 May 2025
  • This case exposes a wide fissure in the foundation.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 May 2025
Definition of fissure
Noun
  • But America's oldest-running distillery ground to a halt last month amid historic and deadly flooding, when Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley says the nearby Kentucky River rose to over 48 feet.
    — Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 3 May 2025
  • Operations to release public records requests largely ground to a halt, according to half a dozen current or former employees.
    — Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
Definition of halt
Verb
  • Note: Most subscribers have some, but not all, of the puzzles that correspond to the following set of solutions for their local newspaper.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 8 May 2025
  • And consider this: From 1969 to the present, 15 of the 20 Supreme Court appointments have been by Republican presidents, even though the Democratic nominees had won the national popular vote in a majority of the corresponding elections.
    — Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Definition of correspond

Phrases Containing check

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cheats
check
checkable
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Cite this Entry

“Check.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/check. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on check

Nglish: Translation of check for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about check

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