Browse all

check in

A2 neutral inseparable both
In simple words

To go to the desk at a hotel or airport and tell them you have arrived, or to quickly talk to someone to say you are okay.

Literal meaning: To mark oneself as 'in' — physically arrived and recorded.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To register upon arrival at a hotel, airport, hospital, or event.

"We need to check in at least two hours before the flight departs."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To make brief contact with someone to report your status or see how they are doing.

"My manager asked me to check in every Friday afternoon with a progress update."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To tag or share your location on a social media platform.

"She checked in at the new restaurant and immediately got comments from her friends."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

In the hospitality/travel sense, used at hotels, airports, hospitals, and events. In the social sense ('check in with someone'), it means a brief, casual contact. Very common in American English. Social media platforms have popularised the 'location check-in' noun form.

Commonly used with

hotel flight airport boss luggage deadline

Forms

Base
check in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
checks in
he/she/it
Past simple
checked in
yesterday
Past participle
checked in
have + pp
-ing form
checking in
continuous

Understand "check in" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "check in" on Looplines