Skip to main content
to check

to check

3 6.5
Attack the opponent's king so it must be moved or protected
  • verb
  • /tʃɛk/
  • Jargon
translation icon : dar jaque
  • The fourteen-year-old moves and calls check.
  • check mate

Examples

  • Again the fourteen-year-old moves and calls check.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Black: Check and mate.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • White moves his queen and says, "Check!"

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Knight F6, check.

  • I moved my rook to put your king in check.

  • When my queen threatened your king, I announced check.

  • The game became tense as he called check while moving his knight.

Antonyms

1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

Idioms

Politely say no now but suggest doing it another time

to rain check
  • Informal
3 4.5

To say you will do something later instead of now

To take a short nap as a joke

To stop and think before you say or do something that causes trouble

A promise that payment is on the way but probably is not

Phrasal Verbs

2.5

To look at or test something to learn more about it

202 2.7

To contact someone briefly to see how they are

136 1.6

To tell hotel or airport staff you have arrived and sign in

117 2.5

To pay your bill and leave a hotel

To look at something to make sure it is correct and works well

To look again to make sure it is correct or safe

38 2.2

To pay for items you buy at a store

15 2.5

Mark an item on a list to show it is done

10 2.8

To look at something carefully to find mistakes or problems

To find out what the weather is now or will be like

7 7.5

To think about your actions before you speak or act

To look at something carefully and check all its parts

Feel your wrist or neck to count how fast your heart is beating

To look at your schedule to see if you are free

To look for places where water or gas is coming out

to check out
  • Specialized
2 3.3

To get a copy of code from a shared project to work on

Find out how hot or cold something is

To check a few random items to make sure they meet standards

To look over calculations to make sure they are correct

To measure a person's body temperature to see if they have a fever

To look at the wheels under a train to find damage or wear

9.9

To make sure you see or try something

4.9

To leave a hat or coat with an attendant to keep it safe

Compounds

35 4.5

A promise to accept an invitation later when you cannot now

A system that stops one person or group having too much power by sharing control

reality check
  • Informal
26 3.9

An experience that makes you see the true situation

25 2.5

Registering your arrival at a hotel, airport, or event by giving your name and documents

20 2.5

A visit to a doctor to check your general health

bad check
  • Specialized
13 3.5

A check from an account without enough money that the bank does not pay

cashier's check
  • Specialized
12 4.6

A check a bank writes and promises to pay the person who receives it

9 2.8

A written order that tells a bank to pay money from a person's account

9 4.6

Freedom to act or spend money without limits

7 3.6

Paper you can use like money abroad that you cash at a bank or shop by showing your ID

5 3.5

A monthly payment from the government or insurance for someone who cannot work because of a disability

5 5.3

A check to make sure everyone is in bed at the set time

check-in
  • Texting
5 3.5

A report sent by an app about your health or mood

gut check
  • Informal
3 8.8

A quick feeling that tells you if something is right

3 3.6

A short surprise test to see if work meets standards

certified check
  • Specialized
3 4.2

A check the bank promises will have enough money to pay someone

3 1.0

A small mark like ✓ that shows something is correct or finished

2 4.4

A small paper record you keep after you tear off a check showing the payment

check girl
  • Archaic
2 6.8

A woman who takes coats or umbrellas at an entrance and gives a ticket to get them back

2 2.7

A written payment that an employer gives an employee for work

1 3.7

A signed piece of paper from a bank with the amount left empty for someone to fill

The latest time a guest must leave their hotel room

1 3.1

Regular monthly money a person gets after they stop working

1 3.5

A book or list where you record checks and deposits to track your bank account

1 2.7

A full medical examination to see how your body is working

1 5.1

A ticket to use later if an event is cancelled because of rain

1 6.8

A simple math check that finds errors in files on drives or during transfer

1 2.7

An extra look to make sure something is correct

A quick check where someone calls names to see who is present

1 2.8

A written note telling a bank to pay a certain amount of money to a person or company

1 4.1

A cheque from a bank that you can cash right away and is safer than a personal cheque

1 3.5

A government check that Medicare sends to an older person to pay medical costs

redundancy check
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A way to find mistakes in data by adding extra information when sending or saving it

parity check
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A way to find errors in digital data by checking whether the number of ones is even or odd

blank check
  • Specialized
6.5

A company formed to raise money from the public to buy other businesses

4.7

Money a bank lets you use when a check makes your account go below zero

check bit
  • Specialized
6.9

An extra binary digit added to data to find errors in transmission or storage

check character
  • Specialized
7.1

An extra digit or letter added to the end of a code to find reading errors

check mark
  • Texting
3.4

A small blue symbol next to a profile that shows the account is real

A set of steps for checking something before you finish or leave

counter check
  • Specialized
6.5

A blank check the bank gives you to get money when your personal checks are not available

8.8

A check on the opponent's king that happens when one piece moves and opens an attack by another piece

dogstooth check
  • Specialized
7.7

A cloth pattern with small jagged checks like a dog's tooth

A small jagged check pattern on fabric often black and white

3.0

A place in a public building where people leave hats and coats to keep them safe

3.7

A small ticket given when you leave a hat or coat to claim it later

health check
  • Specialized
3.1

A routine test that shows if a computer system or service works well

A cloth pattern of small jagged checks in two colors

A cloth pattern of small broken checks usually black and white

odd-even check
  • Specialized
6.7

A way to find errors in data by checking whether the number of ones is odd or even

poke check
  • Specialized
8.2

A quick push with a hockey stick that knocks the puck away from an opponent

treasurer's check
  • Specialized
7.2

A paper payment that a bank issues and pays from its own money

How Threatening

to checkmate
3 5.7
to check
  • Jargon
3 6.5
to attack
1.3
to threaten
987 3.3

Surface Forms

check infinitive
checked past
checked past participle
checking present participle
checks third person singular

Etymology

Check in chess comes from the Persian word shah ('king'); calling 'check' warns that the king is under attack. So saying check in the game is a direct warning to protect the king.