Check vs Examine vs Inspect vs Review vs Verify

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Check

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 verb

Examine

Top 2,000 (common) B1 verb

Inspect

Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

Review

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Verify

Formal Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

Most formal: Verify

	Check	Examine	Inspect	Review	Verify
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/tʃek/","/tʃeks/","/tʃekt/","/ˈtʃekɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/tʃek/","/tʃeks/","/tʃekt/","/ˈtʃekɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈspekt/","/ɪnˈspekts/","/ɪnˈspektɪd/","/ɪnˈspektɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈspekt/","/ɪnˈspekts/","/ɪnˈspektɪd/","/ɪnˈspektɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈvjuː/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈvjuː/"]/	🇬🇧 //ˈverɪfaɪ// 🇺🇸 //ˈvɛrəˌfaɪ//
Meaning	To look at something to see if it's correct or okay.	to look at something carefully to learn more about it	To look at something carefully to learn more about it.	To look at something again to check or evaluate it.	To check if something is true or correct.
Example	Please check your answers before submitting the test.	The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up.	The teacher walked around inspecting their work.	I wrote a review of the new restaurant that just opened.	The accountant will verify all financial statements before the audit.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Formal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A1	B1	C1	A2	C1
Part of speech	verb	verb	verb	noun	verb
Collocations	always, daily, periodically, had better, must, need to, against, for, with, be worth checking, check to see if, check to see whether, always, daily, periodically, had better, must, need to, against, for, with, be worth checking, check to see if, check to see whether, simply, mentally, off	carefully, closely, in detail, aim to, attempt to, be designed to, for, let us examine…, carefully, closely, in detail, aim to, attempt to, be designed to, for, let us examine…	carefully, closely, thoroughly, allow somebody to, be entitled to, for, carefully, closely, thoroughly, allow somebody to, be entitled to, for	enthusiastic, excellent, favourable/​favorable, do, write, give something, appear, copy, article, do, class, session, materials, review for, careful, complete, comprehensive, ask for, call for, seek, take place, cover something, deal with something, board, body, committee, under review, up for review, review by	verify information, verify results, verify identity
Antonyms	ignore, disregard	ignore, overlook, neglect	ignore, overlook, neglect	ignore, overlook	falsify, disprove, reject
Common mistakes	Confused with 'cheque' in British English., Using 'check' as a noun without proper context., Incorrectly conjugating 'check' in the past tense.	Confused with 'inspect' — 'examine' is broader than just checking for flaws., Misusing the tense — should use 'examined' for past actions, not 'examine'., Incorrect prepositions — do not say 'examine to' but 'examine for' in some contexts.	'Inspect' is often confused with 'expect', leading to incorrect use., 'Inspect' is sometimes misused as a noun; it's only a verb., Learners might forget to use an object with 'inspect'.	Using 'review' as a noun and verb without context (needs clear subject or object)., Confusing 'review' with 'revise' (review is for checking, revise is for changing)., Saying 'make a review' instead of 'write a review.'	Confused with 'verify' as a noun, should only be used as a verb., Using 'verify' with incorrect prepositions, e.g., 'verify to' instead of 'verify against'.
Usage notes	Used in various contexts such as checking information, verifying facts, or inspecting items. Avoid using in very formal writing; instead, opt for 'verify' or 'inspect.'	Use 'examine' in formal contexts like academic writing or professional discussions. It may sound out of place in casual conversations, where 'look at' might be preferred.	Use 'inspect' when examining objects, processes, or situations closely. More formal than 'look at'. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'check out' or 'look' are more common.	Use 'review' in both formal and informal contexts, like schoolwork or feedback on a product. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing specific topics.	Used in formal contexts, especially in legal, academic, or technical settings. Not common in everyday conversation.

Frequently asked questions: Check vs Examine vs Inspect vs Review vs Verify

What's the difference between Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Verify?

Check: To look at something to see if it's correct or okay. Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it Inspect: To look at something carefully to learn more about it. Review: To look at something again to check or evaluate it. Verify: To check if something is true or correct.

Which is more formal: Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Verify?

Verify is the most formal of these.

Are Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Verify the same CEFR level?

Check: A1, Examine: B1, Inspect: C1, Review: A2, Verify: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Verify?

Check: verb, Examine: verb, Inspect: verb, Review: noun, Verify: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Check: Please check your answers before submitting the test. Examine: The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. Inspect: The teacher walked around inspecting their work. Review: I wrote a review of the new restaurant that just opened. Verify: The accountant will verify all financial statements before the audit.

Can I use Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Verify interchangeably?

Not always. Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Verify are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.