Check out Explained | English Vocabulary

There is a phrasal verb that can change the way you communicate — at work, when you travel, and in your daily conversations. It has multiple different meanings, and native English speakers use it every single day without even thinking about it. Here is your hint: You use this verb when you want to examine, verify, or try something new for the first time. Stay with me, because I am about to reveal everything.

Professional example: Before the big presentation, the manager checked out the client website and came prepared with three relevant questions.

Everyday example: My friend told me to check out the new coffee shop downtown, and now it is my favorite place in the whole city.

There it is — check out. Two completely different situations, one phrasal verb. But what does it really mean, and why does it show up in so many different places? Hang on — I will explain everything in just a moment.

3 Meanings of Check out

Here is the answer I promised you at the beginning. Check out has several powerful meanings, and today I will teach you all of them.

The first meaning: to examine or verify something to see if it is true, good, or worth your time.

The second meaning: to leave a hotel after paying the bill and returning the keys.

And the third meaning: in informal English, to take a look at someone or something new and interesting.

How Professionals and Everyday Speakers Use It

Now let us put these to work.

Professionals check out a competitor strategy before a big meeting so they walk in prepared, and they check out a new tool before recommending it to the team.

People check out a new restaurant, a new podcast, or a new neighborhood just to experience something different.

Now that you understand the core meaning of check out, subscribe if you want to master more phrasal verbs that English speakers actually use every day. And if this lesson helped you, let me know by hitting the like button. We post new vocabulary lessons on this blog every week.

4 Real Examples

Let us see check out in action, with four real examples — two for work, two for everyday life. Example one — Before the meeting, the manager checked out the client website and prepared three relevant questions. Example two — The team checked out the new project tool for two weeks before deciding to adopt it. Example three — We checked out the old neighborhood last weekend and discovered a wonderful bookshop. Example four — I checked out a new podcast after my friend recommended it, and now it is part of my morning routine.

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The best way to master 'check out' is to check out new things every single day in English. A Kindle lets you check out new books and fresh vocabulary wherever you go. Start with one page a day, and you will soon feel the difference.

Your Turn

Now it is your turn. Go to the comments and post your own sentence using check out. Writing your own examples is one of the most powerful ways to remember new vocabulary — but more importantly, it helps you put your new phrasal verb into practice immediately. So do not skip this part. Write your sentence now.

If you enjoyed this lesson, leave a comment to let me know! Keep learning, and see you in the next post.

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