check
check
Pronunciation
check: /tʃiːp/
/tʃ/ (ch sound, as in "church")
/iː/ (long "ee" sound, as in "sheep")
/p/ (p sound, as in "pen")
Word Form Variations
Adjective: cheap, cheaper, cheapest
Adverb: cheaply
Verb: cheapen, cheapens, cheapening, cheapened
Noun: cheapness
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition: Low in price, especially in relation to the actual value or market standard.
Synonyms: inexpensive, affordable, economical, low-cost
Antonyms: expensive, costly, pricey, dear
Definition: Of poor quality or shoddy workmanship; made with inferior materials or little care.
Synonyms: shoddy, flimsy, inferior, poorly made, tawdry
Antonyms: high-quality, durable, well-made, superior
Definition: (Of a person or action) Undeserving of respect or admiration; morally contemptible or vulgar.
Synonyms: vulgar, tacky, unrefined, disreputable, ignoble
Antonyms: respectable, noble, refined, dignified, admirable
Adverb
Definition: At a low cost or for a small amount of money.
Synonyms: inexpensively, affordably, economically
Antonyms: expensively, dearly, lavishly
Verb
Definition: Cheapen: To reduce the quality, value, or reputation of something.
Synonyms: debase, degrade, devalue, demean, uglify
Antonyms: enhance, elevate, dignify, improve, enrich
Noun
Definition: Cheapness: The state or quality of being low in price or of poor quality.
Synonyms: affordability, inexpensiveness, shoddiness, inferiority, vulgarity
Antonyms: expense, costliness, quality, superiority, dignity
Examples of Use
Books: "The character, a struggling artist, often had to settle for cheap meals to make ends meet, a recurring theme that highlighted his financial struggles." (From a literary analysis of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath)
Newspapers: "Analysts predict that a continued surplus in oil production could lead to even cheaper gas prices for consumers in the coming months." ( The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications: "Looking for a last-minute getaway? We've rounded up the best cheap flight deals for summer travel." ( Travel + Leisure online)
Television (Entertainment Medium): "In a pivotal scene, the detective scornfully remarked, 'That's a cheap trick, even for you,' when confronting the suspect about his deceptive tactics." (From a review of an episode of Law & Order, aired April 2024)
Film (Entertainment Medium): "Critics lauded the film's stunning visuals but criticized its cheap storyline, calling it predictable and uninspired." (From a film review of Cosmic Echoes)
Music (Entertainment Medium/Platform): "The lyrics of the popular song lamented the pervasive influence of cheap imitations on artistic integrity, calling for originality." (From an analysis of a song by Taylor Swift, released February 2025)
General Public Discourse: "I can't believe how cheap tickets to that concert were – I thought they'd be much more expensive!" (Heard in a casual conversation)
General Public Discourse: "He made a cheap shot at his opponent during the debate, resorting to personal attacks instead of discussing policy." (Heard on a political talk show)
Online Forum/Social Media: "Anyone know where I can find cheap furniture in the city? Moving into a new apartment next month!" (Reddit user post)
10 Quotes Using Check
"There is hardly anything in the world that someone cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price alone are that person's lawful prey." (John Ruskin)
"What the people want is cheap money." (Calvin Coolidge)
"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." (Oscar Wilde – While not directly using "cheap," the sentiment of value vs. easily obtained knowledge is often associated with discussions of "cheap" education.)
"They talk about a cheap press, but the press has always been and always will be the property of the rich." (Anarchist slogan, often attributed to various sources)
"A man has a hard time when he has to make a living at cheap jokes." (Abraham Lincoln)
"There's no such thing as a cheap vacation." (American proverb)
"Life is cheap, but chips are expensive." (Japanese proverb)
"It is true that you can make anything sound bad if you make it sound cheap." (Andy Warhol)
"Democracy... is a sophisticated and fragile product, and a very cheap thing to destroy." (Norman Mailer)
"A cheap and easy way to change the world is to be kind." (Original quote)
Etymology
The word "cheap" has a fascinating journey through language, starting from old trading days!
It comes from the Old English word "cēap," which meant "bargain" or "purchase." Think of it like going to a market (which, by the way, was called a "cheaping" or "cheapside" in Old English, like the famous Cheapside street in London!). So, "cēap" was all about the act of buying and selling.
Over time, the meaning of "cēap" shifted. The first known use of "cheap" in its modern sense, meaning "low in price," appeared in the 16th century. Before that, if something was "good cēap," it meant it was a good bargain. Eventually, people just started saying "cheap" to mean it was a good deal, and then it evolved further to simply mean "inexpensive."
Later on, the negative sense of "cheap" – meaning poor quality or shoddy – also developed. This likely came about because things that were very low in price were often of lesser quality.
So, in a nutshell: "cheap" started out meaning a "bargain" related to buying and selling, then evolved to mean "low in price," and finally also took on the meaning of "poor quality."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Check
Cheap shot: An unfair or unsporting remark or action, often a personal attack.
Talk is cheap: It's easy to say something, but harder to do it or prove it.
On the cheap: Done or acquired at a low cost.
Cheap date: Someone who is easy to please or does not require much money to entertain.
Cheap thrill: A minor, often fleeting, pleasure that requires little effort or expense.
Cheap at half the price: Something is such a good bargain that it would be worth twice its current cost.
Feeling cheap: Feeling of being of little worth or importance, often after a morally questionable act.
A dime a dozen: Very common and therefore of little value (using a synonym for "cheap" effect).
Cut-rate deal: A significantly reduced price or bargain (using a synonym for "cheap" effect).
Dirt cheap: Extremely inexpensive.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of check from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
