Uncheck

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ʌnˈt͡ʃɛk/

Definitions

1. To indicate that an option is no longer selected or active in a list format
2. To remove the mark from a choice or box in a digital interface so it is no longer selected
3. To clear the selection indicator from a checkbox or similar control in software that was previously chosen

Etymology: "Uncheck" is a plain formation: the prefix "un-" attached to "check." The prefix comes from Old English "on-" (a variant of "and-" meaning "against" or "back"), which passed through Middle English into the modern form. In "uncheck," the prefix carries the sense of reversing an action, so the word means undoing a check mark or tick. The base word "check" is the element doing most of the work. Here it refers to marking a box or option as selected, so reversing that act gives "uncheck." The verb is therefore a direct reversal of a modern interface action rather than a word with a long independent history. Because the word is a straightforward combination of two existing English elements, its meaning is transparent. Its origin lies in the reversing function of "un-" applied to "check," which is why it is readily understood by anyone who has used a list of checkboxes.

Synonyms: deselect, untick

Antonyms: check, tick