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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 first call to police at 2:05 p.m. reported a bomb and request for a well-being check inside William Jones College Preparatory High School, 700 S. State St., Chicago police reported. —Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025 Applying for a new credit or loan account involves a credit check which will lower your score temporarily. —Bianca Rodríguez Rojas, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
Second, patch your device and set a reminder to check regularly for firmware updates. —Simon Hill, WIRED, 21 Feb. 2025 An antibody titer test is a blood test that can check your immunity to the measles virus. —Korin Miller, SELF, 21 Feb. 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
  • The bill has stalled repeatedly in Congress as opponents argue such measures are no longer needed because the country has changed since the 1960s.
    — Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
  • In both cases, the tariff bill isn’t large compared to total sales – but both Topgolf and Amer stocks are down the last month, 17% and 13% respectively.
    — Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of bill
Noun
  • The letter also highlighted several violations of current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations found during an inspection of a Cipla facility in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
    — Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The inspection didn’t name the brush’s usual function.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of inspection
Noun
  • Vibrations caused by the sonic conditions of flight might have been the root cause of the issue, according to the statement.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The article was published the next day and quoted extensively from that response, with a link to the full statement.
    — Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of statement
Noun
  • Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Meanwhile, The Doctor and Belinda get tickets to the Interstellar Song Contest, an out-of-this-world version of Eurovision, featuring a cameo from the international competition’s commentator Rylan Clark.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of ticket
Noun
  • Los Angeles fires and recovery Malibu businesses are struggling in the aftermath of fire and continuing restrictions along Pacific Coast Highway.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
  • But border closures and travel restrictions during the pandemic prompted Turkish medical tourism companies to look for new markets.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of restriction
Noun
  • The lava river traces to a fissure at the base of the volcano’s Bocca Nuova crater, according to a report from the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program. Landsat 8, a collaboration between NASA and the United States Geological Survey, was launched in 2013.
    — Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Rectal bleeding: Minor rectal bleeding is possible if a hard stool causes any anal fissures (small tears) in the rectal lining.
    — Lindsay Curtis, Health, 16 Feb. 2025
Definition of fissure
Noun
  • Zelensky on Friday won the support of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Ukraine’s proposals to take some first steps toward stopping the war, including a halt on firing missiles, drones and bombs at energy and other civilian infrastructure.
    — Illia Novikov and Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
  • While domestic production of weapons covers nearly 30% of Ukraine's military needs, a prolonged halt in U.S. aid would pose considerable risks for the country in the final phase of the war.
    — Katya Soldak, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of halt
Verb
  • The equation no longer corresponds to a Turing machine that computes perfect squares—and, more generally, the Diophantine equations can no longer encode the halting problem.
    — Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Under Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, the Space Force has defined a highly effective strategy; corresponding operational concepts and technologies; and a new training regimen to ensure U.S. equities in space are secured.
    — David A. Deptula, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of correspond

Phrases Containing check

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Cite this Entry

“Check.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/check. Accessed 12 Mar. 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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