A checkmark is a simple symbol that shows something is correct, complete, or approved. It looks like a short line that angles down and then swoops up to the right: ✓.

Teachers use checkmarks to show that an answer is right on a homework assignment. When you finish a task on a to-do list, you might draw a checkmark next to it to show it's done. At the doctor's office, the nurse puts checkmarks in boxes on forms to record information about your health.

A checkmark can be the opposite of an X, which usually means something is wrong or rejected. When you see a checkmark on your paper, it means “yes, good job” or “this is finished.” Some people call it a check or tick (especially in Britain), and you might hear someone say they're checking off items on a list.

Digital checkmarks appear everywhere: in online forms when you select options, in apps when you complete activities, and in text messages when someone has read what you sent. The simple checkmark has become a universal symbol of accomplishment and accuracy.