Unchecked Meaning
/ʌnˈt͡ʃɛkt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjUnrestrained, not held back.
adjNot examined for accuracy, efficiency, etc.
Sentence Examples
Bouteflika and his entourage had unchecked access to Algeria's oil revenues.
You're just going to let all this go unchecked?
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The dangerous forest fire remained ____ for hours because no firefighters arrived to fight it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The problem will continue to grow ____ if we do not take immediate action to address the underlying issues today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English checked English unchecked From un- + checked.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Earth's a Theefe, / That feeds and breeds by a compoſture ſtolne / From gen'rall excrement: each thing's a Theefe. The Lawes, your curbe and whip, in their rough power / Ha's vncheck'd Theft."
— 1605–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies, London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, act IV, scene iii, page 94:
"[…] For, whenever his Bounty is miſus'd, by being made to miniſter to our Luſts or any unlawful Paſſions, if he ſhall ſtill ſuffer us to go on in an uncheckt Courſe of Proſperity, That is what may Pleaſe Us, and we may be likely to think it God's Favour and Kindneſs to Us, which would really be one of his Greateſt Plagues."
— 1722, Edward Maynard, “Sermon II. Of Judging Others as to Their Final State”, in Sermons Preach'd before the University of Oxford: or before the Honourable Society of Lincolns-Inn. With Two Discourses on Natural and Reveal'd Religion, London: Printed for Jonah Bowyer at the Rose in St. Paul's Church-Yard, →OCLC, pages 25–26:
"The buſy candidates for power and fame / Have hopes, and fears, and wiſhes juſt the ſame; / Diſabled both to combat, or to fly, / Muſt hear all taunts, and hear without reply. / Uncheck'd on both, loud rabbles vent their rage, / As mongrels bay the lion in a cage."
— 1785, Samuel Johnson, “Prologue to the Comedy of the Good Natur'd-Man. 1769.”, in George Kearsley, editor, The Poetical Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Now First Collected in One Volume, London: Printed for the editor, and sold by G. Kearsley, No. 46, Fleet Street, →OCLC, pages 177–178:
"He ſeeks reſpect—but how to gain it? / Wit, ſocial mirth, could ne'er obtain it: / And laughter, where it reigns uncheck'd, / Diſcards and diſſipates respect."
— 1795, William Shenstone, “The Progress of Taste: Or, The Fate of Delicacy. A Poem on the Temper and Studies of the Author; and how Great a Misfortune It Is, for a Man of Small Estate to Have Much Taste.”, in Robert Anderson, editor, The Works of the British Poets. With Prefaces, Biographical and Critical, by Robert Anderson, M.D., volume IX, London: Printed for John & Arthur Arch; and for Bell & Bradfute, and J. Mundell & Co. Edinburgh, →OCLC, part II, page 644:
"Then ceased I from my envying state, / And knew that aweless intellect / Hath power upon the ways of fate, / And works through time and space uncheckt."
— 1863, Arthur Henry Hallam, “Written after Visiting Melrose Abbey in Company of Sir Walter Scott”, in Henry Hallam, editor, Remains in Verse and Prose of Arthur Henry Hallam. With a Preface and Memoir, new edition, London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, →OCLC, stanza V, page 44:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The dangerous forest fire remained ____ for hours because no firefighters arrived to fight it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The problem will continue to grow ____ if we do not take immediate action to address the underlying issues today.