# check off

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/check-off
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to mark an item on a list to show that you have finished it or dealt with it.

For teachers: to mark items on a list with a tick or similar notation to indicate completion or verification; often used in the context of administrative tasks or inventory.

## Examples

- I check off each task as I finish it.
- Before leaving for the airport, she checked off every item on her packing list to ensure nothing was forgotten.
- The supervisor meticulously checked off the names on the manifest to confirm that all passengers had safely boarded the vessel.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I checked off of the items." but "I checked off the items." — the preposition 'of' is unnecessary after the particle 'off'.

## Usage notes

- commonly used with lists, tasks, or names; the object can go between 'check' and 'off'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'tick off' (more common in British English) and 'cross off' (which implies drawing a line through the item rather than just marking it as done).

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.