checked
checked — verb
1. to examine something carefully in order to confirm that it is correct, safe, or
to examine something carefully in order to confirm that it is correct, safe, or working as it should.
Yumi checked the oven twice before leaving the apartment.
check + noun (a physical object)
Please check that the front door is locked before you go to bed.
check + that-clause for confirming a state
The nurse checked Kian's blood pressure and wrote the number on a chart.
Mayumi checked her bag for the keys but only found a packet of mints.
Always check the brakes carefully before riding a bicycle on a steep hill.
文法句型
check + noun
check + that-clause
check + wh-clause
check for + noun
用法筆記
Often followed by 'for' when looking for a specific problem or item: 'check for leaks', 'check for typos'. Frequently appears with 'twice' or 'again' to stress care.
常見錯誤
2. to draw a small ✓ next to an item on a list to show you have finished it or chos
to draw a small ✓ next to an item on a list to show you have finished it or chosen it.
Noa checked each box on the form to show what foods she could not eat.
check + box (form / questionnaire)
Paul checked off every chore on the wall calendar before dinner.
check off + noun on a list
Please check the items you want to order from the menu.
João checked the box next to 'vegetarian meal' on his flight booking page.
- uncheck
remove a check mark, especially on a screen
文法句型
check + noun
check off + noun
用法筆記
British English usually says 'tick' rather than 'check' for this action; American English uses 'check' or 'check off'. Distinguish from sense 1 ('examine'): here the focus is the act of making the mark.
常見錯誤
3. to keep something harmful from spreading, growing, or getting worse, especially
to keep something harmful from spreading, growing, or getting worse, especially by holding back its force or progress.
Heavy rain finally checked the spread of the forest fire near the village.
subject is often a force or barrier; object is a harmful spread
The new tax was meant to check rising house prices in big cities.
check + abstract negative trend
Dahlia checked her anger and spoke to the rude driver in a calm voice.
The dam was built to check the river before it reached the farmland.
文法句型
check + noun
用法筆記
Object must be something unwanted (anger, growth, advance, spread). Frequently appears in news writing about policies or natural forces. Distinguish from sense 1: here nothing is being inspected — something is being held back.
常見錯誤
4. to give bags or coats to someone at an airport, hotel, or cloakroom so that they
to give bags or coats to someone at an airport, hotel, or cloakroom so that they can keep or send them for you.
Piotr checked two suitcases at the airport and kept his laptop with him.
check + luggage at airport
Tara checked her winter coat at the museum cloakroom before the tour.
check + coat at cloakroom
We had to check our skis at a special counter near the gate.
Nala checked her umbrella at the restaurant and forgot to pick it up.
文法句型
check + noun
check in + noun
用法筆記
Object is a possession you do not want to carry yourself (luggage, coat, large bag). The opposite action — picking it up later — is 'claim' or 'collect'. British English prefers 'leave' or 'hand in'.
常見錯誤
5. to mark a surface with a pattern of small squares, like the squares on a chessbo
to mark a surface with a pattern of small squares, like the squares on a chessboard.
The artist checked the canvas with thin red and white lines before painting it.
check + surface with lines
Roya checked the floor of the bathroom with small black and white tiles.
check + floor with tiles
The cloth had been checked in dark green and cream for the kitchen curtains.
Christopher checked the chess club's new wooden board himself, square by square.
文法句型
check + noun
用法筆記
Rare in everyday speech; mostly seen in design, fashion, and craft writing. The past participle 'checked' as an adjective ('checked shirt') is far more common than this verb sense.
6. in the game of chess, to move a piece so that the other player's king will be ca
in the game of chess, to move a piece so that the other player's king will be captured on the next move unless it is moved or protected.
Camille checked her grandfather's king with a single knight and grinned.
check + the king (chess)
Élise checked the world champion's king on move thirty of the final game.
check + the king with a specific piece
In two more turns, Aaron checked the black king and won the match.
You can check the king from a long distance using a bishop on an open line.
- give check
the noun phrase form, common in chess writing
- block
the reply move that ends the check
文法句型
check + the king
用法筆記
Only used in chess. The piece used must be able to attack the square the king sits on. The next move forced for the opponent is to escape, block, or capture the threatening piece.
常見錯誤
7. to speak sharply to someone because of something they did wrong; to tell off.
to speak sharply to someone because of something they did wrong; to tell off.
The judge checked the young lawyer for shouting in the courtroom.
check + person + for + -ing
Sven was checked by his manager for arriving late three days in a row.
passive: be checked by + person
Kenji checked the new recruit firmly but did not raise his voice once.
The teacher checked the boys for whispering during the science test.
文法句型
check + person + for + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and formal; mostly seen in novels and historical writing. In modern speech, 'tell off', 'scold', or 'reprimand' are far more common.
8. to write a written order asking your bank to pay an amount of money from your ac
to write a written order asking your bank to pay an amount of money from your account.
Valentina checked on her savings account to pay the workers for the roof repair.
check on + account
The shop owner checked on his business account for the cost of the new freezer.
check on + business account
Felipe checked on the family account each month to pay the rent on time.
Adaeze checked on her local bank to send the donation to the school.
- draw on
more common in modern finance writing
- write a check
the everyday way to express this idea
- deposit
put money into an account rather than take it out
文法句型
check on + bank/account
用法筆記
Mostly American business and formal writing; in everyday speech people say 'write a check'. Often appears in older banking texts. Distinguish from sense 1: here the verb does not involve looking at anything.
checked — noun
1. the act of looking at something carefully to make sure it is correct, safe, or w
the act of looking at something carefully to make sure it is correct, safe, or working properly.
The pilot did a final check on the wings before the plane took off.
do a check on + noun
Yumi runs a quick check on the smoke alarm batteries every January.
run a quick check on + noun
A health check at the local clinic costs only fifteen dollars.
The shop made a check on the price of every coat before the winter sale.
Paul gave the new tyres a careful check before driving up the mountain road.
- inspection
more formal; suggests a closer, professional look
- examination
common in medical settings
- review
more about evaluating quality than physical inspection
文法句型
a check on + noun
do / run / make a check
用法筆記
Forms many fixed compounds — 'health check', 'safety check', 'background check', 'spot check'. Verbs that go with it: 'do', 'run', 'make', 'carry out', 'give'.
常見錯誤
2. a printed slip of paper that asks your bank to send a stated sum from your accou
a printed slip of paper that asks your bank to send a stated sum from your account to a named person or company.
Mayumi wrote a check for two thousand dollars to the wedding photographer.
write a check for + amount + to + person
Noa cashed her birthday check at the bank on her way home from school.
cash a check
Please make the check payable to 'Green Lake Elementary' for the field trip fee.
Kian's grandfather still pays the gardener by check every Friday afternoon.
文法句型
a check for + amount
write / cash a check
用法筆記
American English spelling; British English writes 'cheque' for this meaning. Common verbs: 'write', 'cash', 'sign', 'bounce' (when the account has no money). Make + check + payable to + name.
常見錯誤
3. something that holds back, slows, or controls another thing so it does not get t
something that holds back, slows, or controls another thing so it does not get too big or too strong.
Strong unions act as a check on company owners who treat workers badly.
act as a check on + noun
Higher interest rates put a check on the rising cost of new houses.
put a check on + noun
João keeps his temper in check by going for a long run after work.
The fence served as a check on the deer who came to eat the young apple trees.
- boost
something that helps growth rather than holds it back
文法句型
a check on + noun
keep + noun + in check
用法筆記
Common in political and economic writing — 'checks and balances', 'a check on power'. Distinguish from sense 1: here nothing is being inspected; something is being controlled or held back.
常見錯誤
4. a piece of paper that shows how much money you owe in a restaurant, or that prov
a piece of paper that shows how much money you owe in a restaurant, or that proves you own an item left in a cloakroom or coat room.
Dahlia asked the waiter for the check and reached into her pocket for her wallet.
ask for the check (restaurant)
Piotr split the check four ways with his college friends after the birthday dinner.
split the check (shared meal)
Tara handed her coat check to the woman at the theatre cloakroom.
Please keep the baggage check until you have picked up your suitcase.
文法句型
ask for / pay the check
用法筆記
Restaurant meaning is mainly American — British English says 'bill'. Compounds 'coat check', 'baggage check', 'hat check' refer to the small ticket that matches your item to its storage spot.
常見錯誤
5. a small ✓ symbol drawn next to a written entry, signalling it is done, chosen, o
a small ✓ symbol drawn next to a written entry, signalling it is done, chosen, or already seen.
Nala put a small red check next to every name on the class register.
put a check next to + noun
Each completed task got a green check in the corner of the planner.
subject = task; verb = got + check
Roya drew a quick check beside the books she had already read this year.
The teacher gave a check to every homework page that had no mistakes.
- tick
British English word for the same mark
- check mark
fuller American name for the symbol
- cross
an ✗ mark, often meaning 'wrong' or 'not chosen'
文法句型
put / make a check next to / beside + noun
用法筆記
British English calls this a 'tick'. Common verbs: 'put', 'make', 'draw', 'give'. The mark itself is the ✓ symbol.
常見錯誤
6. in chess, the position where the king is being attacked and must be moved or pro
in chess, the position where the king is being attacked and must be moved or protected on the next turn.
Christopher's king was in check from the bishop on the long diagonal.
be in check from + piece
Camille put the black king in check by moving her queen two squares forward.
put the king in check by + -ing
The young player did not see the check and lost his queen the next turn.
After a long thought, Élise escaped check by sliding her king to the corner.
- threat
general chess word; 'check' is the specific named threat to the king
- checkmate
the position where the king cannot escape — the game ends
文法句型
be in check
put the king in check
用法筆記
Uncountable in the fixed phrase 'in check'. Players also shout 'Check!' when they make the attacking move, as a friendly warning. Distinguish from sense 3 ('limit'): this is the chess position, not the general idea of restraint.
7. a design made of small squares of two or more colours, like the squares on a che
a design made of small squares of two or more colours, like the squares on a chessboard or on a tablecloth.
Aaron picked a shirt with a soft brown and cream check for the dinner party.
noun + with a + colour + check
The kitchen tablecloth had a red and white check that matched the curtains.
subject + had a + colour + check
Sven's old school skirt was a dark green check from the Scottish town of his grandmother.
Many farmers in this region wear shirts in a thick wool check during winter.
文法句型
a check pattern
in a check
用法筆記
Often used in compound nouns: 'tartan check', 'gingham check', 'window-pane check'. Closely related to the adjective 'checked' which describes anything with this pattern.
checked — adjective
1. showing a design made up of small squares in two or more colours, like a chessbo
showing a design made up of small squares in two or more colours, like a chessboard.
Kenji wore a soft blue and white checked shirt to the family picnic.
a + colour + checked + clothing item
The new kitchen curtains are checked in dark red and warm cream.
predicative: noun + be + checked + in + colours
Valentina spread a small checked blanket on the grass beside the river.
The waiter brought our coffee on a tray with a thin checked cloth.
Felipe's school tie is a quiet brown checked design that matches his jacket.
文法句型
a checked + noun
noun + be + checked
用法筆記
Common in fashion and home-decor writing. Often paired with two colour words: 'red and white checked', 'black and yellow checked'. Closely related to noun sense 7 'check' (the pattern itself).