Definition of check verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

check

verb

/tʃek/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they check	/tʃek/ /tʃek/
he / she / it checks	/tʃeks/ /tʃeks/
past simple checked	/tʃekt/ /tʃekt/
past participle checked	/tʃekt/ /tʃekt/
-ing form checking	/ˈtʃekɪŋ/ /ˈtʃekɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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examine

[transitive] to examine something to see if it is correct, safe or acceptable

check something She gave me the minutes of the meeting to read and check.
Check the oil and water before setting off.
Check your work before handing it in.
Customs officers have the right to check all luggage going through customs.
The cars were checked to see whether the faults had been spotted.
check something for something Check the container for cracks or leaks.
Be sure to check labels for specific information.
check something against something I'll need to check these figures against last year's.

see also fact-check

Synonyms checkcheckexamine ▪ inspect ▪ go over somethingThese words all mean to look closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, or acceptable.check to look at something closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, safe or acceptable:

Check your work before handing it in.

examine to look at somebody/something closely to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem:

The goods were examined for damage on arrival.

inspect to look at somebody/something closely to make sure that everything is acceptable; to officially visit a school, factory, etc. in order to check that rules are being obeyed and that standards are acceptable:

Make sure you inspect the goods before signing for them.
The Tourist Board inspects all recommended hotels at least once a year.

check, examine or inspect?All these words can be used when you are looking for possible problems, but of these three words only check is used for mistakes: Examine/Inspect your work before handing it in. Only examine is used when looking for the cause of a problem: The doctor checked/inspected her but could find nothing wrong. Examine is used more often about a professional person: The surveyor examined the walls for signs of damp. Inspect is used more often about an official: Public health officials were called in to inspect the restaurant. go over something to check something carefully for mistakes, damage or anything dangerous:

Go over your work for spelling mistakes before you hand it in.

Patterns

to check/examine/inspect/go over (something) for something
to check/examine/inspect/go over something to see if/whether…
to check/examine/inspect/go over something carefully/thoroughly

Extra Examples

Check the engine oil level regularly.
Check the roof for loose slates.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

always
daily
periodically
…

verb + check

had better
must
need to
…

preposition

against
for
with
…

phrases

be worth checking
check to see if
check to see whether
…

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make sure

[intransitive, transitive] to look at something or ask somebody to find out if something/somebody is present, correct or true or if something is how you think it is

We'll check back in a couple of hours.
We were interrupted by a waiter checking to see if everything was OK.
‘Is Mary in the office?’ ‘Just a moment. I'll go and check.’
check something Hang on—I just need to check my email.
She's constantly checking her phone—it drives me mad.
check something for something Check our website for details.
check (that)… Go and check (that) I’ve locked the windows.
check with somebody Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise programme.
check what/whether, etc…. She glanced around to check whether anyone was watching.
check with somebody what/whether, etc… You'd better check with Jane what time she's expecting us tonight.
check something against something The data is then checked against a database of criminals.

make mark

[transitive] check something (especially North American English)

(British English usually tick)

to put a mark (✓) next to an item on a list, an answer, etc.

Check the box next to the right answer.
To take advantage of this extra bonus offer, simply check the box on your order form.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

simply
mentally
off
…

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control

[transitive] check something to control something; to stop something from increasing or getting worse

The government is determined to check the growth of public spending.
She tied some strips of cloth around the wound to check the bleeding.
The active ingredient checks the growth of bacteria.

[transitive] to stop yourself from saying or doing something or from showing a particular emotion

check something to check your anger/laughter/tears
He made no effort to check his tears and just let them run down his face.
check yourself She wanted to tell him the whole truth but she checked herself—it wasn't the right moment.

coats/bags/cases

[transitive] check something (North American English) to leave coats, bags, etc. in an official place (called a checkroom) while you are visiting a club, restaurant, etc.

Do you want to check your coats?

[transitive] check something (North American English)

(also check something in British English, North American English)

to leave bags or cases with an official so that they can be put on a plane or train

How many bags are you checking?

Word Originverb Middle English (originally as used in the game of chess): the noun and exclamation from Old French eschec, from medieval Latin scaccus, via Arabic from Persian šāh ‘king’; the verb from Old French eschequier ‘play chess, put in check’. The sense ‘stop or control’ arose from the use in chess, and led (in the late 17th cent.) to ‘examine the accuracy of’.

See check in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee check in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: check

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dizzy

adjective

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Health problems

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