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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in halt
the stopping of a process or activity the announcement of bad news gave a sudden check to the celebration

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
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
  • Last year legislators passed SB 292 which bans the manufacturing, selling or distributing of products containing PFAs beginning on Jan. 1, 2028, according to the bill’s analysis.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2025
  • There was Representative Chip Roy, the Texas congressman who was insisting the bill include steep cuts to Medicaid.
    — Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Definition of bill
Noun
  • Trains cannot resume until safety inspections and equipment checks are completed, meaning contingency bus and light rail services will continue for now.
    — Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • Traffic reopened in both directions after a preliminary inspection.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 19 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
  • In a joint statement in March, Poland and the three Baltic states announced their withdrawal, arguing for a rethink on which weapons are – and which ones are not – acceptable in the face of Russia’s aggression.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 11 May 2025
Definition of statement
Noun
  • This was what the 10,000 lucky souls with tickets, many of them wearing fluorescent orange to honor their red-headed hero’s mane, were ready to build with their Mexican waves and screams.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 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
  • Harvard, in its refusal to comport with new federal guidelines regarding DEI restrictions, has put $9 billion in federal funding at risk.
    — Rep. Steve Weir, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2025
  • Complete access to Netflix without restrictions is considered Open.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 20 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
  • People magazine similarly reported the relationship has come to a halt.
    — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
  • However, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Broadway to a halt, Koguchi found herself in a foreign country, unable to perform.
    — J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 17 May 2025
Definition of halt
Verb
  • One inevitable complication in understanding how attention paid to stories in the news corresponds with political support is that consumers can design a media diet of information from only one side or perspective.
    — Ruth Igielnik, New York Times, 18 May 2025
  • Names will correspond with their locations. Clubhouse540, for instance, is named after the Zip code of its address, 60540.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025
Definition of correspond

Phrases Containing check

Browse Nearby Words

cheats
check
checkable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Check.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/check. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on check

Nglish: Translation of check for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about check

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All