check
chehk
Also spelled cheque (UK spelling)
Check (noun) means an inspection to make sure something is correct, safe, or working. Example: “The mechanic did a quick check before we set off on the trip.”
noun
1
An inspection to make sure something is correct, safe, or working.
"The mechanic did a quick check before we set off on the trip."
"Please do a spell check before submitting the report."
"The nurse did a routine check of the patient's temperature every hour."
2
A written order instructing a bank to pay a stated sum (spelled "cheque" in British English).
"He tore up the check and wrote a new one for the right amount."
"The bank would not cash the check until the funds had cleared."
"She wrote a check to cover the rent."
3
The bill for a meal, especially in a restaurant.
"After dessert, the waiter brought the check to our table."
"Let me pay the check tonight, since you paid last time."
"Could we get the check, please?"
4
In chess, a position where the king is under direct threat of capture.
"White put Black's king in check with the bishop."
"Be careful, because that move leaves your king in check."
"She announced check, and her opponent had to protect the king at once."
verb
1
To examine or verify something.
"Check the oil level before a long drive."
"I checked the address twice before mailing the letter."
"Always check the weather forecast before you go walking in the hills."
2
To control, limit, or stop something.
"New regulations were introduced to check the spread of the disease."
"He tried to check his anger by counting slowly to ten."
"Planting trees along the slope helped to check the erosion of the soil."
3
In ice hockey, to use the body or stick to block or unbalance an opponent.
"He was penalized for checking from behind."
"The defenceman checked the winger hard against the boards."
"Players are taught how to check an opponent without breaking the rules."
How to use check
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo look something over for accuracy or safety — or, as a noun, the inspection itself, a restaurant bill, or (US) a bank cheque.
UK vs US
American English spells the bank document "check"; British English spells it "cheque," though other senses (inspection, chess, restraint) are spelled "check" in both.
Common pairings
double-check
check in
reality check
background check
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Word forms
- Plural
- checks
- Third person singular
- checks
- Past tense
- checked
- Archaic forms
- checkest, checkedst, checketh
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The mechanic did a quick _____ before we set off on the trip.
Etymology
Traces back through Old French eschec to Arabic and Persian words for "king" used in chess to announce a threatened king — the same root gives us "chess" and "checkmate." The sense of "stop" or "verify" grew out of the idea of halting an opponent's move.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for check
See all rhymes for check →Frequently asked questions
What does “check” mean?
The word “check” means an inspection to make sure something is correct, safe, or working. In plain terms, to look something over for accuracy or safety — or, as a noun, the inspection itself, a restaurant bill, or (US) a bank cheque.
How do you pronounce “check”?
“Check” is pronounced chehk (/t͡ʃɛk/ in IPA).
How do you use “check” in a sentence?
Here is “check” used in a sentence: “The mechanic did a quick check before we set off on the trip.”
What part of speech is “check”?
Depending on how it is used, “check” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “check” come from?
The word “check” comes from Old French.
Is “check” a common word?
“Check” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “check” have?
“Check” has 7 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an inspection to make sure something is correct, safe, or working.
What is the difference between a check and an inspection?
A check is usually quick and informal — a look to confirm something is right, safe or working, like checking the mirrors before driving. An inspection is more thorough, systematic and often official, carried out by someone with authority. Every inspection is a kind of check, but not every check is a full inspection.
What is the difference between 'check' and 'cheque'?
In British English, check is the inspection or a tick mark, while cheque is the printed slip used to pay money from a bank account. American English uses check for both meanings. So a British writer runs a safety check but writes a cheque; the spellings keep the two ideas apart.
What are the types of checks?
The word covers many everyday inspections: a safety check, a health check, a security check, a quality check, a background check and a spot check, among others. Each describes examining something to confirm it is correct, safe or working properly, whether that's equipment, a person's records or someone's wellbeing.
What is an example of a 'check' in this sense?
A check is an inspection to confirm all is well: 'the mechanic did a quick check of the brakes,' 'a final check of the figures before sending the report,' or 'passport checks at the border.' In each case, someone is looking to make sure something is correct or safe.
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