check out
Britishverb
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(intr) to pay the bill and depart, esp from a hotel
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(intr) to depart from a place; record one's departure from work
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to investigate or prove to be in order after investigation
the police checked out all the statements
their credentials checked out
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informal (tr) to have a look at; inspect
check out the wally in the pink shirt
noun
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the latest time for vacating a room in a hotel, etc
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( as modifier )
checkout time
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a counter, esp in a supermarket, where customers pay
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Record one's departure from a hotel by paying the bill, or from a conference or other function, as in As soon as my bags are packed I'll check out of the motel . [Early 1900s]
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Leave hurriedly, make a quick exit, as in The minute I get paid I'm checking out . [ Slang ; 1920s]
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Die, as in When he got cholera, he was sure he'd check out . [ Slang ; 1920s]
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Withdraw an item after recording the withdrawal, as in I'll check out the tapes on your library card . [1930s]
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Record, total the prices, and receive payment for a purchase, as in The cashier checked out and bagged my groceries in record time .
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. Investigate or evaluate something or someone; observe carefully. For example, I don't know if you'll like the film; check it out yourself , or That man who's staring is probably just checking us out . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]
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Pass close inspection, as in That rattle made me suspicious, but the repairman said the machine checked out completely .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As part of their "summer bucket list", they are planning to check out all the parks in the local area and she is prioritising low-cost activities throughout the summer.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The World Cup is different, of course — going in, I figured I would check out the U.S., keep an eye on Messi, then tune into the final few games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
And if you want to start next week off right, check out Your Morning Slate, a newsletter that goes great with coffee.
From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2026
Watch us play a game of “luck versus skill” above, and check out the full video here.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Bess wanted to go check out the padlock on the animal pen gate.
From "Pony Problems: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #3" by Carolyn Keene
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
