check out

look at someone or something to see if you like them or to learn more

B1

What does "check sb/sth out" mean?

"Check out" in this sense means to look at something or someone with interest or curiosity — often because it's new, exciting, or has been recommended. It's the kind of looking you do when you want to see what something is like, such as visiting a new restaurant, watching a video, or browsing a website. This phrasal verb has a casual, enthusiastic feel, which is why it's so common in everyday conversation, social media, and advertising. It suggests a light, informal kind of examination — more like browsing than serious research. You'll often hear it in recommendations, like "You should check out this playlist!" or as an attention-grabber: "Check this out!"

Examples

How to use it

check out + object

The most common pattern — a person looks at or examines something, especially in recommendations or suggestions.

You really should check out that new café on the high street.

check + object + out

With short noun phrases, the object often goes between the verb and particle for a natural, conversational feel.

She sent me her new blog — check this design out, it looks amazing.

check + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between "check" and "out" — it cannot go after "out".

My friend showed me her new portfolio. Check it out — the photos are brilliant!

imperative: check out + object / check + object + out

The imperative is by far the most frequent pattern, used to grab attention or make an enthusiastic recommendation.

Check out the new menu they've just released — there are so many great options!

have you checked out + object?

The present perfect is commonly used in questions to ask if someone has already seen or tried something.

Have you checked out that new music app everyone keeps talking about?

Common Collocations

check out a website/linkcheck out a restaurantcheck out a videocheck out a profilecheck out the reviewscheck out a new place

Common Mistakes

Pronoun after "out"

When the object is a pronoun like "it", "them", or "her", it must go between "check" and "out". Placing a pronoun after "out" is ungrammatical in English.

✗ I heard about that new series — I'll check out it tonight.
✓ I heard about that new series — I'll check it out tonight.
Separating with a long noun phrase

When the object is a long noun phrase, it's more natural to keep "check out" together and place the object after. Splitting a long phrase can sound awkward.

✗ You should check the incredible new short film they just released on YouTube out.
✓ You should check out the incredible new short film they just released on YouTube.
Confusing with other senses

"Check out" has several meanings — including leaving a hotel or paying at a store — which are intransitive and don't take a direct object. In this sense (have a look at something), there is always a direct object that is the thing being looked at.

✗ We checked out at noon. [using this when you mean 'have a look']
✓ Check out the view from the rooftop — it's incredible!

Usage

This phrasal verb is informal and very common in spoken English, social media, and marketing as a casual recommendation or call to action. Avoid it in formal writing or academic contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use "check out" in formal writing or at work?

It's best to avoid it in formal writing, academic essays, or professional emails, as it sounds quite casual and informal. In those situations, you could use phrases like "take a look at", "review", or "examine" instead. It's perfectly fine in friendly work chat messages or informal conversations with colleagues, though.

Does "check out" always mean looking at a thing, or can it refer to a person?

It can refer to both. When used about a person, it often implies looking at them with interest — sometimes to assess how attractive they are. For example, "He noticed her checking him out from across the room." Be aware that in this context it can sometimes sound a bit objectifying, so use it carefully depending on the situation.

Is "Check it out!" a complete sentence on its own?

Yes! "Check it out!" and "Check this out!" are very common as standalone exclamations in casual speech. People use them to grab someone's attention before showing them something interesting, without needing to say exactly what "it" refers to in advance.

What kinds of things can you "check out" with this meaning?

Almost anything you can look at, visit, or browse — websites, videos, restaurants, shops, apps, profiles, menus, playlists, and more. It works well with new or recently discovered things, which is why it's so popular in recommendations. You wouldn't normally use it for something abstract like an idea or a problem — for those, you'd use "look into" instead.

What's the difference between "check out" and "look into"?

"Check out" is casual and implies a fairly quick, surface-level look — like visiting a restaurant to see if you like it, or watching a short video. "Look into" suggests a more serious or thorough investigation, such as researching a topic in depth. For everyday recommendations and browsing, "check out" is the natural choice.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →