Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To examine or inspect something carefully: To look at or investigate something to verify its condition, quality, or accuracy.
   • To settle one's bill and leave a hotel or similar establishment: To complete the formal process of paying and departing from a place of temporary lodging.
   • To record the sale and receive payment for items purchased: To process the items a customer is buying, typically at a store's cash register.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To be verified or confirmed; to prove to be true or accurate: To undergo a process of verification and pass inspection.
   • To depart, especially from a hotel: To announce or complete one's departure.
   • (Slang) To die: An informal, often lighthearted or euphemistic term for dying.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Transitive):

  • You should check out that new restaurant downtown; the reviews are great. (To examine/investigate)
  • We need to check out of the hotel by 11 AM. (To settle a bill and leave)
  • The cashier will check out your groceries at the next available register. (To process a purchase)

• Verb (Intransitive):

  • His alibi didn't check out with the police timeline. (To be verified/confirmed)
  • After breakfast, we packed our bags and checked out. (To depart from a hotel)
  • (Informal) The old cat finally checked out last night. (To die)

Advanced Usage

• "To check someone/something out": To look at someone or something with interest, often implying attraction or curiosity.

  • He couldn't help but check out the classic car parked across the street.
  • Did you see him checking her out at the party?

• "Check it out!": An imperative phrase used to draw someone's attention to something interesting or exciting.

  • Check it out! They're filming a movie on our street.

Variants and Related Words

• Checkout (noun): The process or place of checking out, especially in a store.
  • The supermarket has ten self-service checkouts.
• Check-out (noun, as a modifier): Used to describe a time or process related to departing.
  • The hotel's check-out time is noon.

Synonyms

• Inspect, examine, scrutinize (for the 'examine' meaning).
• Leave, vacate, depart (for the 'depart from a hotel' meaning).
• Verify, confirm, validate (for the 'be confirmed' meaning).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Check in: The opposite action for hotels; to arrive and register.
  • We will check in at 3 PM and check out on Sunday.
• Check over/through: To examine something carefully and systematically.
  • Please check over this report for any errors before we submit it.

Related Idioms

• Check out the scene: To observe and assess a social situation or environment.
  • Let's arrive early to check out the scene before the party gets crowded.
• Check out mentally/physically: To become disengaged or absent, either in thought or by leaving a situation.
  • After the third hour of the lecture, I just completely checked out mentally.

Verb

1. try to learn someone's opinions and intentions
   • I have to sound out the new professor
2. withdraw money by writing a check
3. record, add up, and receive payment for items purchased
   • She was checking out the apples that the customer had put on the conveyer belt
4. trace
   • We are running down a few tips
5. be verified or confirmed; pass inspection
   • These stories don't check!
6. announce one's departure from a hotel
7. examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
   • check the brakes
   • Check out the engine