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check out — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 different jobs. Tap a meaning to jump to it — then lock each one in by saying it out loud.

phrasal verb3 meanings
  1. 1 leave a hotelto pay your bill and officially leave a hotel or other place you have stayed in.
  2. 2 examine or look atto look at something or someone to see what they are like, or to examine something carefully.
  3. 3 die (slang)to die; to pass away (used informally or humorously, often to soften the topic or add a casual tone).
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All meanings, in depth

Ordered by how often you'll hear each one — the meaning tells you what it does, the examples and tips show it in use.

1

leave a hotel

B1check out of sthMost common

to pay your bill and officially leave a hotel or other place you have stayed in.

We need to check out of the hotel by 11 a.m.

A: What time do we have to check out tomorrow?
B: The front desk said noon, so we have some time.

During my last trip, I almost forgot to check out of the hostel before catching my train.

Common mistake

We checked out from the hotel at 10.

We checked out of the hotel at 10.

'Check out OF a hotel', not 'from'.

Tell it apart

check out of the hotel

leave / settle the bill

check in at the hotel

arrive / register
Use 'check out' when you finish your stay and leave a hotel or similar place. You usually pay your bill at this time.Not the same as 'check in,' which means to arrive and register at a hotel.

Often paired with

check out of
2

examine or look at

B2check out sthspokeninformal

to look at something or someone to see what they are like, or to examine something carefully.

You should check out the new café on Main Street; it's really good.

A: Have you checked out that movie everyone is talking about?
B: Not yet, but I want to this weekend.

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Common mistake

Check out this.

Check this out.

With 'this/it', the object goes in the middle: 'check this out'.

Tell it apart

Check out the new café.

go take a look / try it

Check out of the hotel.

pay and leave
Use 'check out' to suggest someone should look at or try something interesting or new.Not the same as 'check,' which can mean to test or verify something.

Often paired with

check out + thing
3

die (slang)

C2check outspokeninformal

to die; to pass away (used informally or humorously, often to soften the topic or add a casual tone).

Sadly, the old actor checked out last night after a long illness.

A: Did you hear about Mr. Jenkins?
B: Yeah, he checked out peacefully in his sleep.

While the phrase 'check out' can mean to leave a hotel, in informal contexts it is sometimes used as a euphemism for dying, though this usage is not suitable for academic writing.

Common mistake

He checked out from cancer last year.

He died of cancer last year. / He passed away last year.

'Check out' for dying is jokey slang; in a real or respectful context, use 'pass away'.

Tell it apart

He checked out.

died — casual / jokey

He checked out of the hotel.

paid and left the hotel
'Check out' meaning 'to die' is informal and often used humorously or euphemistically. Avoid using it in formal writing or when discussing death in a serious or respectful context.Unlike the B1 sense ('leave a hotel') and the B2 sense ('examine or look at'), this sense is a slang, figurative use meaning 'to die'. It does not involve physically leaving a place or examining something.

Often paired with

check out (die)

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