a second examination or verification
chess a simultaneous check from two pieces brought about by moving one piece to give check and thereby revealing a second check from another piece
An Americanism dating back to 1950–55
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It said various errors were found in the record-keeping, with inspectors advising: “He just needs to double check his work.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
Moreover, workers may also have outsize expectations around AI’s automation capabilities, with many of the current tools still requiring workers to double check the completed work for errors.
From Barron's ● Mar. 27, 2026
If in doubt, call your insurance company to double check.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 10, 2025
She added that some people who thought they were on a priority list were not, urging anyone who thinks they might be to double check.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2025
It marks, however, a double check to Louis XIV.
From The Conquest of New France A chronicle of the colonial wars by Wrong, George McKinnon
Just double-check that the spot it chooses is actually open — AI chatbots don’t always use the most up-to-date information.
From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026
It means bad AI output compounded by lazy humans who can’t be troubled to double-check.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
Olson said he is now more inclined to double-check AI output after learning Gemini had invented the entire exchange.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026
"If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and take a moment to double-check before making a payment," they said.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
Lawrence had asked his childhood friend to double-check the Rad Lab’s results using the Carnegie’s accelerator, the only machine in the world that could approach the cyclotron’s energies.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Even though she has filters set up, Tabacnic always double-checks to make sure her matches are actually where the dating app says they are.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 3, 2026
And someone on a hydraulic lift double-checks each hanging fixture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2024
In Colorado, Dr. Michelle Barron said the consistently low COVID-19 hospitalizations prompted smiles among staff, even as she double-checks the numbers to make sure they’re actually correct.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 1, 2022
That’s why a music conductor I know always double-checks with himself just before he hears “maestro to the pit” and must head to the podium to conduct an opera.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 2, 2021
Far up a third climb, Werner unfolds the map and double-checks his bearings with a compass.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Research shows that advisers find it more insulting to be double-checked by a chatbot than by a human rival.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026
After hearing its predictions for the Sweet 16 round I double-checked the data.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 18, 2026
The film’s access coordinator Chantelle Nassari also equipped Bode with a fully accessible trailer, double-checked the day’s pathways and ensured the actor had what she needed to be able to perform.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2024
Some circumstances require manual counts or double-checked tallies.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2024
Chess double-checked to make sure he had the phone in his own hand set to mute any noise he, Emma, or Finn might make.
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
“Just double-checking my directions back into town,” I said.
From Slate ● Jun. 19, 2025
They recommend double-checking ingredients or working with a doctor or healthcare professional to choose the prenatal supplement.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 21, 2024
The state appears to have presented a figure without fully explaining its methodology or double-checking the information, said Becker, who is a former senior trial attorney in the voting section of the U.S.
From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2024
Twinning is a way of double-checking gold is present by drilling next to the place it has been found and taking rock samples.
From BBC ● May 18, 2024
“Unofficially. Off the record,” Mrs. Richardson assured her friend, tucking the phone receiver against her shoulder and double-checking that her office door was shut.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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.
