Check
mediumNeutral tonechek
verb
Definition
(verb) To restrain or control; to stop the progress of
Memory hook
CHECK (GRE verb): in chess, a CHECK stops the king — to check means to restrain or halt progress.
Examples
“The treaty was designed to check the spread of nuclear weapons.”
“Nothing could check his ambition once he set his mind to a goal.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The treaty was designed to ______ the spread of nuclear weapons.”
Show answer
check
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Check is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "restrain" or "curb" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "advance".
Related GRE Words
stem
(verb) To stop or restrict; to originate from
arrest
(verb) To stop or check the progress of something; to seize by legal authority
stymie
to block, thwart, or frustrate progress toward a goal
thwart
To prevent someone from accomplishing something
suppress
to subdue, restrain, or keep from being expressed
tractable
easily managed, controlled, or shaped
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