check

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcheckcheck1 /tʃek/ ●●●S1W2 verb 1find out [intransitive, transitive]CHECK/MAKE SURE to do something in order to find out whether something really iscorrect, true, or in good condition Check the tiles carefully before you buy them. A first rule in solving any mystery is to check the facts. Fill in the cash book carefully and always check your calculations.check (that) Check that all the doors are locked securely.check whether/how/who etc Let me just check whether the potatoes are cooked. They paused to check how the other climbers were getting on.check (something) for something I checked the typing for errors. Turn the tap on and check for leaks.check something against/with something (=compare something with something else to see whether they are the same) You must check the evidence against other sources and decide if it is reliable. Positive test results aredouble-checked (=looked at twice) to make absolutely sure.2ask somebody [intransitive, transitive]CHECK/MAKE SURE to ask someone whether something is correct, true, or allowed I’m not authorized to give you a refund – I’ll have to check first.check (that) Make a phone call to check that you’re writing to the right person.check whether/how/who etc Call the factory to check whether the beds can be delivered today.check with Check with your doctor before going on a diet.3not do something [transitive]PREVENT to suddenly stop yourself from saying or doing something because yourealize it would be better not to I had to check the urge to laugh out loud.check yourself He grinned, and then checked himself, not wanting to upset Jack.4stop something [transitive]PREVENT to stop something bad from getting worse or continuing to happen The police are failing to take adequate measures to check the growth in crime.5bags/cases etc [transitive] American English,check in British EnglishTTA to leave yourbags at an official place so they can be put on aplane or a train, or to take someone’s bags in order to do this Any luggage over five kilos must be checked.6make a markMAKE A MARK [transitive] American English to make amark (✓) next to an answer, something on alist etc to show you havechosen it, that it is correct, or that you have dealt with itSYN tick British English7 →CheckTHESAURUScheck to look at something carefully and thoroughly in order to make sure that it is correct,safe, or working properlyI’ll just check the water level in the battery.The immigration officer checked their passports.We need to check the building for structural damage.examine to look at something carefully and thoroughly because you want to find out something about itExperts who examined the painting believe it is genuine.The police will examine the weapon for fingerprints.inspect to look at something carefully and thoroughly in order to make sure that it is correct, safe, or working properly, especially when it is your job to do thisThe building is regularly inspected by a fire-safety officer.Some insurance people have already been here to inspect the damage caused by the storm.go through something toexamine something such as adocument or plan from beginning to end, especially in order tocheck that it is correctYou should go through the contract before you sign.I’ve finished my essay, but I just need to go through it to check for spelling mistakes.double-check to check something again so that you are completely sure it is correct, safe, or working properlyI double-checked all my calculations and they seemed fine.Travellers should double-check flight information before setting off today.test to examine or use something in order to find out whether it works or what its qualities are, or in order to check that it issatisfactoryTest your brakes to check they are working correctly.These products have not been tested on animals.monitor to carefully watch or keep checking someone or something in order to see what happens over a period of timeDoctors monitored her progress during the night.Observers have been monitoring the situation in Burma closely. →check in →check something ↔ off →check on somebody/something →check out →check something/somebody ↔ over →check up on somebody/something→ SeeVerb tableExamples from the Corpuscheck•"Are you sure this is the rightphone number?" "Yes, I've justchecked."•"Can Iexchange this for a smallersize?" "You should be able to. Let mecheck."•"We havemilk, don't we?" "Uh, I'llcheck."•Shefrowned, andchecked again, her eyeswidening inamazement.•Theirpassports werechecked byimmigration officers at theairport.•Before yourtrip,check if yourinsurance covers you abroad.•You mustevaluate yourevidence,check it against othersources and decide if it isreliable.•That bag's too large to take on the plane - I cancheck it for you.•If a source can not be stated and thereforechecked, it must besuspect.•I want tocheck my voicemail.•Themobile phone is constantly in use as hechecks,queries andinforms staff.•I'll justcheck that Ilocked the door.•Check that themeat is cooked thoroughly before serving it.•It is not possible tocheck theaccuracy of the figures.•We need tocheck the building forstructural damage.•If you are manually recording in adiary asecretary shouldcheck thedates three months inadvance on adaily basis.•You'd bettercheck the figures one more time - we don't want anymistakes.•Doctors are trying tocheck thespread of thedisease with drugs.•Let'scheck to see if she's OK.check (that)•However,critics say not all states have thecapability orresources toconduct instantchecks.•Otherwise, the company willdeduct 2 percent of ourtravel costs from our reimbursementchecks.•Satisfied that everything was as it should be, hechecked his watch.•They run computerchecks on theiropponent.•Recently this liberalisation of trade has beenchecked, or at leastslowed, by a wholeseries of actions.•Finally,check that you have asupply ofspare lamps for each lighting set you are using.•In this case anotherusher orbridesmaid could take over theduty ofchecking themicrophone.•The question that has to be asked is this: Whochecks themoral credentials of themoralists?check (that)•However, critics say not all states have the capability or resources to conduct instantchecks.•Otherwise, the company will deduct 2 percent of our travel costs from our reimbursementchecks.•Satisfied that everything was as it should be, hechecked his watch.•They run computerchecks on their opponent.•Recently this liberalisation of trade has beenchecked, or at least slowed, by a whole series of actions.•Finally,check that you have a supply of spare lamps for each lighting set you are using.•In this case another usher or bridesmaid could take over the duty ofchecking the microphone.•The question that has to be asked is this: Whochecks the moral credentials of the moralists?check yourself•Jay was given tograndiloquent rambling, and had tocheck herself.•Stepping into thelift, Wexford decided to do theLondonchecking himself.•We checked ourselves,gasping, our little heartslunging in ourchests,ensuring thatcontinence had not been lost.•Tom had tocheck himself from whistling.•She had, lately, almost come to this point with Gildas, but hadchecked herself in time.•Shechecks herself into thepsychiatric ward of our localhospital.•Hechecked himself over to make sure there was noblood on his clothes.•Then shechecked herself, realising she waswandering in her mind.CheckCheckAmerican English spoken say this when someonementions each thing on a list, to tell them that you have it or have done it ‘Passport?’ ‘Check.’ ‘Ticket?’ ‘Check’. →checkRelated topics:Shapes, patterns,Board gamescheckcheck2 ●●●S1W3 noun 1finding out [countable]CHECK/MAKE SURE the process of finding out if something is safe, correct, true, or in the condition it should becheck on the need for tighter checks on arms sales Conductregular checks on your water quality.run/carry out/make a check I decided to run a check on all personnel. Ikeep a carefulcheck on my blood pressure.have a check British English Have a check in your bag first and see if it’s there. the airport’s routinesecurity checks random drugcheckshealth/medical/dental etc check (=a test done to make sure you are healthy)spot check (=a quick check of one thing among a group of things, that you do without warning) a spot check on the accounts2 →keep/hold somebody/something in check3a control on something [countable usually singular]CONTROL something that controls something else and stops it from getting worse, continuing to happen etccheck on Higher interest rates will act as a check on public spending.4 →checks and balances5pattern [countable, uncountable]CF apattern ofsquares, especially oncloth a shirt with brown and black checkscheck suit/jacket etc (=made with cloth patterned with checks) a blue cotton check dress →checked6from your bank [countable]PAY FOR theAmerican spelling ofchequecheck for a check for $30by check Can I pay by check?7in a restaurant [countable] American English a list that you are given in arestaurant showing what you have eaten and how much you must paySYN bill British English►seethesaurus atbill8 →coat/hat check9mark [countable] American EnglishWRITE a mark (✓) that you put next to an answer to show that it is correct or next to something on a list to show that you have dealt with itSYN tick British English10chess [uncountable]DGB the position of theking (=most important piece) inchess where it can be directly attacked by the opponent’s piecesCOLLOCATIONSverbsdo a checkI did a quick check of all the windows, locked the door and left.make a check (=do a check)One of the nurses makes regular checks during the night.run a check (=especially on something that is strange or suspicious)You should run a virus check before downloading from the Internet.carry out/conduct a check formal (=do or run a check)The police carried out a check on the car’s registration number.have a check British EnglishAlways have a final check to make sure you’ve got your ticket and passport.give something a checkI’d like you to give the car a careful check.keep a check on somebody/something (=check something regularly)Keep a check on your baby’s temperature.go for a medical/dental etc checkShe advised me to go for a medical check.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + checka quick checkA quick check showed that someone had been in the room.a thorough/careful checkAn engineer gave the computer a thorough check.a routine check (=happening as a normal part of a process)I went to the doctor for a routine health check.a random check (=done without any definite pattern)Customs officials were carrying out random checks on cars.a regular checkIt’s vital to keep a regular check on your bank balance.a close check (=a careful one)His teacher was keeping a close check on his progress.a safety/security checkThe security checks at the airport can take a long time.a health/medical checkPeople over 60 should have regular medical checks.a background check (=to get information about someone’s previous work, education, family etc)The company conducts background checks on security employees.a credit check (=to get information about someone’s financial history)Banks usually do a credit check before they give you a loan.a spot check (=a quick check of one thing in a group done to obtain information)They did a spot check on 160 vehicles to see how many passengers were wearing seat belts.a spell check (=a process in which a computer program tells you if you have spelt words wrong)Have you done a spell check on your essay?Examples from the Corpuscheck•Each time you come across askill you used in the story place acheck next to it in theappropriate column.•Theagency doesbackgroundchecks on all the nannies ithires.•Oil change,check andadjustment services follow everysubsequent 6,000miles, with a major servicescheduled every 36,000 miles.•They run computerchecks on their opponent.•There areregularchecks on the quality of goods leaving ourfactory.•Allroutine safetychecks were carried out before theflight.•asecuritycheck•Then he wrote out asizablecheck of his own and handed it to anotherRepublic sportswriter.•Spotchecks bycustoms officers led to thearrest of several drugsmugglers.•May I have thecheck,please?•Awaiter came over and handed me thecheck.•Let me pay thecheck.•atablecloth with red and whitecheckscheck on•Thecommission serves as acheck ontelephone service monopolies.check suit/jacket etc•There was Philippa Mannering lookingavid in a beautifully cutcheck suit and abrown beret at arakish angle.•One man, wearing acowboy hat and aloudcheck jacket,clashed somewhat with theovercoats andpinstripes.•In came MrWormwood in a loudcheck suit and ayellow tie.•I mentioned that the man I had spoken to had an oldcheck suit and alimp.•He clashedstriped shirts,check jackets and spotted ties.•Over the back of achair wasslung a black-and-tancheck jacket which would look wrong with theblue trousers.check for•She gave the family acheck for $2450.From Longman Business Dictionarycheckcheck1 /tʃek/ noun1[countable] American EnglishBANKING the American spelling ofCHEQUEAfter a minute, she wrote out the check and placed it on the table. →rubber check2[countable] anexamination orinvestigation of something to see that it is correct, true, or safe and in the condition it should beThe fund is monitored regularly by carrying out a check of all outgoing payments against the register.You can get a free safety check on your gas fire from British Gas.I passed mymedical check and was then sent to HQ. →background check →credit check →spot check3keep a check on to watch or examine something regularly to make sure that it is correct, true, or safe and in the condition it should beIt’s important to keep a constant check on cashflow.4[countable, uncountable] something that controls another thing and stops it from happening more or getting worseHigher interest rates act as a check on government spending.5keep/hold something in check to keep something under controlThe bank may have to raise interest rates further to keep inflation in check.6[countable] American English thebill you are given in a restaurant at the end of yourmeal, showing what you have eaten and the costSYNbill BrE7[countable] American English a mark that you put next to an answer to show it is correct or against anitem on a list to show that you have dealt with itSYNtick BrEcheckcheck2 verb1[intransitive, transitive] to find out whether something is correct, true, or safeInsurance arrangements will be included in the pension scheme, but you should check that cover is adequate.Employers have the right to check the criminal record of a potential employee.2[transitive] to stop something bad from happening more or getting worseThey welcomed the Bundesbank’s tighter monetary policy to check inflation and provide for a healthier economic recovery next year.3[transitive]TRAVEL to hand your bags to someone at an airport so that they will be put on the plane you are going to takeWe checked our baggage and went for a meal.4[transitive] American English to make a mark next to an answer or something on a list to show that it is correct or has been dealt withSYNtick BrE →check something ↔ in →check something ↔ off →check out→ SeeVerb tableOrigincheck21.(1300-1400)Old Frencheschec“check in chess”, fromArabicshah, fromPersian,“king”2.(1400-1500)checker“chessboard, pattern of squares”((14-21 centuries)), fromOld Frencheschequier, fromeschec

Exercises

Vocabulary exercises help you to learn synonyms, collocations and idioms.
Intermediate and Advanced level grammar practice with progress tests.
Listening and pronunciation, exam preparation and more!

More results

See all results

Pictures of the day

What are these?

Click on the pictures to check.

Explore topics

See all topics

Word of the daymakera person or company that makes a particular type of goods

Verb table

check

Simple Form
Present
I, you, we, they	check
he, she, it	checks
> View More
Past
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	checked
Present perfect
I, you, we, they	havechecked
he, she, it	haschecked
Past perfect
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	hadchecked
Future
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	willcheck
Future perfect
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will havechecked
> View Less

Continuous Form
Present
I	amchecking
he, she, it	ischecking
> View More
you, we, they	arechecking
Past
I, he, she, it	waschecking
you, we, they	werechecking
Present perfect
I, you, we, they	have beenchecking
he, she, it	has beenchecking
Past perfect
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	had beenchecking
Future
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will bechecking
Future perfect
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will have beenchecking
> View Less

Movatterモバイル変換

check

More results

Explore topics