check out — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb3 meanings

check out

1leave a hotel 2examine or look at 3die (slang)

Meaning 1 · most common

leave a hotel

check out of sth

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

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

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.

Common mistake

Not: We checked out ~~from~~ the hotel at 10.

Say: We checked out of the hotel at 10.

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

More on “leave a hotel”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

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

Tell it apart

check out of the hotel

leave / settle the bill

check in at the hotel

arrive / register

Goes with

check out of

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Next meaning: examine or look at

Meaning 2

examine or look at

check out sth
informal

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

How oftenCommon

LevelB2

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

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.

Common mistake

Not: Check ~~out this.~~

Say: Check this out.

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

More on “examine or look at”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

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Tell it apart

Check out the new café.

go take a look / try it

Check out of the hotel.

pay and leave

Goes with

check out + thing

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Next meaning: die (slang)

Meaning 3

die (slang)

informal

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

How oftenRare

LevelC2

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

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.

Common mistake

Not: He ~~checked out from~~ cancer last year.

Say: 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'.

More on “die (slang)”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

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.

Tell it apart

He checked out.

died — casual / jokey

He checked out of the hotel.

paid and left the hotel

Goes with

check out (die)

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leave a hotel examine or look at die (slang)