check out

verb

1. (intr) to pay the bill and depart, esp from a hotel

2. (intr) to depart from a place; record one's departure from work

3. to investigate or prove to be in order after investigation

   the police checked out all the statements

   their credentials checked out

4. informal,  (tr) to have a look at; inspect

   check out the wally in the pink shirt

noun

1. 1. the latest time for vacating a room in a hotel, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      checkout time

2. a counter, esp in a supermarket, where customers pay

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Leave hurriedly, make a quick exit, as in The minute I get paid I'm checking out . [ Slang ; 1920s]

Die, as in When he got cholera, he was sure he'd check out . [ Slang ; 1920s]

Withdraw an item after recording the withdrawal, as in I'll check out the tapes on your library card . [1930s]

Record, total the prices, and receive payment for a purchase, as in The cashier checked out and bagged my groceries in record time .

. 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]

Pass close inspection, as in That rattle made me suspicious, but the repairman said the machine checked out completely .

Example Sentences

But there’s still plenty of opportunity to check out the rare overlap of species from northern and southern California.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Can I then pop a cap on him, proceed to check out my 15 items, and ask for a cleanup in line 3?”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She told jurors it was at that time that she had been considering whether she had been adopted, and decided to "check out databases" of missing people.

Read more on BBC

For a laid-back spot where you and your friends can sit at picnic tables and enjoy juicy pastrami sandwiches, loaded French fries and refreshing cocktails, check out Johnny’s in West Adams.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Other events worth checking out in Salem include a walk through any of the beautiful museums or a ticket to one of the town’s famous ghost tours.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• inspect 
• investigate