check-up

IPA/ˈtʃek ʌp/
KK[tʃˈɛkˌʌp]IPA/ˈtʃek ʌp/

check-up — noun

1. a visit to a doctor or clinic where your overall physical condition is examined,

1.nounB1
Definition

a visit to a doctor or clinic where your overall physical condition is examined, often in order to find or prevent health problems before they become serious.

Example

Mayumi goes for a check-up every year to make sure her heart and blood pressure are fine.

go for a check-up — annual routine visit

The school doctor gave the children a quick check-up before the sports competition.

give + check-up (doctor as subject)

Common collocations
  • annual check-up
  • routine check-up
  • full check-up
  • dental check-up
  • go for a check-up
  • have a check-up
  • book a check-up
  • medical check-up
Synonyms
  • physical

    informal American English term for a medical check-up, especially a routine one

  • medical examination

    more formal and broader in scope; can refer to any medical inspection, not just routine health checks

  • health screening

    focuses specifically on testing for early signs of disease, such as cancer or high blood pressure

Grammar Patterns

go for a check-up

have a check-up

get a check-up

Usage Note

Check-up is a countable noun and is most commonly used in the singular form. In American English, the synonym 'physical' is often used informally (e.g. 'I need to get a physical'). In British English, 'medical' is also common (e.g. 'She had a medical for her new job').

Common Mistakes

I need to check-up my health.
I need a check-up.
Check-up is a noun, not a verb. The verb form is 'check up on someone/something'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms refer to an examination of someone's body to assess their health, but they differ in register and scope. 'Check-up' is the most neutral, everyday word — you might use it in any situation from a casual conversation to a doctor's appointment. 'Physical' is common in American English and often implies a routine, head-to-toe assessment by a general practitioner (e.g. 'The camp requires a physical before enrolment'). 'Medical examination' is more formal and can be used for any type of medical inspection, including one ordered by an employer or an insurance company. 'Health screening' is narrower: it refers to systematic tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer markers) aimed at catching diseases early, rather than a general conversation-based check of overall health. For everyday use, 'check-up' is the safest choice.

check-up ↗physical ↗medical examinationhealth screening

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • go for a check-up
  • have a check-up
  • get a check-up
  • book a check-up
  • schedule a check-up

Prepositions

  • for a check-up
  • during a check-up

Etymology

English

The noun 'check-up' developed from the verb phrase 'check up', meaning to investigate or verify. The verb form dates from the late 1800s, and by the early 1900s the hyphenated noun form had emerged, first in general contexts ('a check-up of the accounts') and then settling into its most common modern use in medicine ('a routine check-up of the patient').