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• check-in
  check-in

  noun

  the act or fact of checking in.
• check in
  check in

  verb

  (intr) to record one's arrival, as at a hotel or for work; sign in or report

check-in

American  

[chek-in] / ˈtʃɛkˌɪn /

noun

• check-ins
  plural

1. the act or fact of checking in.

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check in British  

verb

1. (intr) to record one's arrival, as at a hotel or for work; sign in or report

2. (tr) to register the arrival of (passengers, etc)

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noun

1. 1. the formal registration of arrival, as at an airport or a hotel

   2. ( as modifier )

      check-in time

2. the place where one registers arrival at an airport, etc

check in Idioms  

1. Record one's arrival at a hotel, conference, or other function, as in I asked the hotel if we could check in early . [Early 1900s] Also see check into , def. 2.

2. Die, as in With the plane rapidly losing fuel, the pilot was sure he'd check in . [ Slang ; early 1900s] Also see check out .

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• check-ins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of check-in

First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase check in

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

check-in check in check-ins

The school day begins with a classroom meeting, known as “morning meeting,” where students complete check-in questions to help the teacher track their circumstances and needs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Those hoping to get on a flight have been stuck at JKIA, with some spending the night in and around the check-in areas waiting for news.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

At Narita, sleeping bags piled up as passengers slept all over the terminal, with massive lines forming for check-in across the airport.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

No waiting around for that 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. hotel check-in to feel alive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

So I sat down, pushed my suitcases under the chair, and waited for check-in.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola

Guests check in at a designated host stand in the museum’s main lobby and are then whisked to a separate elevator for Skywalker Grill.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

So I do check in with family and friends, give them my routes at the beginning of the walk, my ETA for when I finish.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

Those who don’t have an email address registered with State Farm will automatically receive a check in the mail.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

A checklist also found on Mangione contained entries including "intel check in" and reminders to purchase a camera from the Best Buy retail chain.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

There was daycare for the children of visitors, and much fun was made of the fact that when you left your child at the Children’s Building, you received a claim check in return.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

On his first day, he asked his manager if they could have check-ins every six months to make sure he was achieving his goals.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

Some relied on structured phone sessions, journaling paired with brief check-ins, or digital tools such as apps and text messages.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 2026

During her time at Apple, Dorman helped build a form-factor prototype for one of Cook’s routine check-ins with the team.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026

Two topics have dominated his check-ins: leadership teams—specifically how to structure them—and corporate culture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

I reached out to feel the language on my skin for the first time since Minerva had breathed her words over my forehead when she thought I was sleeping during her nightly check-ins.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline