diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
index eb81e21..e0555ab 100644
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -14,5 +14,6 @@
         "etc/**/*": true,
         "markdown/**/*": true,
         "node_modules/**/*": true
-    }
+    },
+    "task.allowAutomaticTasks": "on"
 }
diff --git a/etc/types.api.md b/etc/types.api.md
index b4d0538..d0c633e 100644
--- a/etc/types.api.md
+++ b/etc/types.api.md
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export abstract class BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig = unknown> implements
     get autoCastAll(): this;
     protected autoCaster?(this: BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig>, value: unknown): unknown;
     abstract readonly basicType: BasicType | 'mixed';
-    check(input: unknown): ResultType;
+    get check(): (this: void, input: unknown) => ResultType;
     protected combineConfig(oldConfig: TypeConfig, newConfig: TypeConfig): TypeConfig;
     construct(input: unknown): ResultType;
     // (undocumented)
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export abstract class BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig = unknown> implements
     protected createResult(input: unknown, result: unknown, validatorResult: ValidationResult): Result<ResultType>;
     readonly enumerableLiteralDomain?: Iterable<LiteralValue>;
     extendWith<E>(factory: (type: this) => E): this & E;
-    is(input: unknown): input is ResultType;
+    get is(): <Input>(this: void, input: Input) => input is unknown extends Input ? ResultType & Input : Input extends ResultType ? Input : never;
     literal(input: DeepUnbranded<ResultType>): ResultType;
     abstract readonly name: string;
     or<Other>(_other: BaseTypeImpl<Other, any>): Type<ResultType | Other>;
diff --git a/jest.config.js b/jest.config.js
index f83b194..6a266f2 100644
--- a/jest.config.js
+++ b/jest.config.js
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ const config = {
     restoreMocks: true,
     coverageThreshold: {
         global: {
-            statements: 99,
-            branches: 96,
-            functions: 99,
-            lines: 99,
+            statements: -4,
+            branches: -21,
+            functions: -2,
+            lines: 100,
         },
     },
     moduleNameMapper: { '^(.*)\\.js$': ['$1.js', '$1.ts'] },
diff --git a/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.check.md b/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.check.md
index 1715571..cdd7ac3 100644
--- a/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.check.md
+++ b/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.check.md
@@ -2,26 +2,16 @@
 
 [Home](./index.md) &gt; [@skunkteam/types](./types.md) &gt; [BaseTypeImpl](./types.basetypeimpl.md) &gt; [check](./types.basetypeimpl.check.md)
 
-## BaseTypeImpl.check() method
+## BaseTypeImpl.check property
 
 Asserts that a value conforms to this Type and returns the input as is, if it does.
 
 **Signature:**
 
 ```typescript
-check(input: unknown): ResultType;
+get check(): (this: void, input: unknown) => ResultType;
 ```
 
-## Parameters
-
-| Parameter | Type    | Description        |
-| --------- | ------- | ------------------ |
-| input     | unknown | the value to check |
-
-**Returns:**
-
-ResultType
-
 ## Remarks
 
 When given a value that does not conform to the Type, throws an exception.
diff --git a/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.is.md b/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.is.md
index e7f41d9..633dcd0 100644
--- a/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.is.md
+++ b/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.is.md
@@ -2,22 +2,12 @@
 
 [Home](./index.md) &gt; [@skunkteam/types](./types.md) &gt; [BaseTypeImpl](./types.basetypeimpl.md) &gt; [is](./types.basetypeimpl.is.md)
 
-## BaseTypeImpl.is() method
+## BaseTypeImpl.is property
 
 A type guard for this Type.
 
 **Signature:**
 
 ```typescript
-is(input: unknown): input is ResultType;
+get is(): <Input>(this: void, input: Input) => input is unknown extends Input ? ResultType & Input : Input extends ResultType ? Input : never;
 ```
-
-## Parameters
-
-| Parameter | Type    | Description |
-| --------- | ------- | ----------- |
-| input     | unknown |             |
-
-**Returns:**
-
-input is ResultType
diff --git a/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.md b/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.md
index 7cf8ac4..784cf15 100644
--- a/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.md
+++ b/markdown/types.basetypeimpl.md
@@ -20,14 +20,16 @@ All type-implementations must extend this base class. Use [createType()](./types
 
 ## Properties
 
-| Property                                                                    | Modifiers                                                | Type                                                            | Description                                                                 |
-| --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| [autoCast](./types.basetypeimpl.autocast.md)                                | <code>readonly</code>                                    | this                                                            | The same type, but with an auto-casting default parser installed.           |
-| [autoCastAll](./types.basetypeimpl.autocastall.md)                          | <code>readonly</code>                                    | this                                                            | Create a recursive autocasting version of the current type.                 |
-| [basicType](./types.basetypeimpl.basictype.md)                              | <p><code>abstract</code></p><p><code>readonly</code></p> | [BasicType](./types.basictype.md) \| 'mixed'                    | The kind of values this type validates.                                     |
-| [enumerableLiteralDomain?](./types.basetypeimpl.enumerableliteraldomain.md) | <code>readonly</code>                                    | Iterable&lt;[LiteralValue](./types.literalvalue.md)<!-- -->&gt; | _(Optional)_ The set of valid literals if enumerable.                       |
-| [name](./types.basetypeimpl.name.md)                                        | <p><code>abstract</code></p><p><code>readonly</code></p> | string                                                          | The name of the Type.                                                       |
-| [typeConfig](./types.basetypeimpl.typeconfig.md)                            | <p><code>abstract</code></p><p><code>readonly</code></p> | TypeConfig                                                      | Extra information that is made available by this Type for runtime analysis. |
+| Property                                                                    | Modifiers                                                | Type                                                                                                                                             | Description                                                                         |
+| --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| [autoCast](./types.basetypeimpl.autocast.md)                                | <code>readonly</code>                                    | this                                                                                                                                             | The same type, but with an auto-casting default parser installed.                   |
+| [autoCastAll](./types.basetypeimpl.autocastall.md)                          | <code>readonly</code>                                    | this                                                                                                                                             | Create a recursive autocasting version of the current type.                         |
+| [basicType](./types.basetypeimpl.basictype.md)                              | <p><code>abstract</code></p><p><code>readonly</code></p> | [BasicType](./types.basictype.md) \| 'mixed'                                                                                                     | The kind of values this type validates.                                             |
+| [check](./types.basetypeimpl.check.md)                                      | <code>readonly</code>                                    | (this: void, input: unknown) =&gt; ResultType                                                                                                    | Asserts that a value conforms to this Type and returns the input as is, if it does. |
+| [enumerableLiteralDomain?](./types.basetypeimpl.enumerableliteraldomain.md) | <code>readonly</code>                                    | Iterable&lt;[LiteralValue](./types.literalvalue.md)<!-- -->&gt;                                                                                  | _(Optional)_ The set of valid literals if enumerable.                               |
+| [is](./types.basetypeimpl.is.md)                                            | <code>readonly</code>                                    | &lt;Input&gt;(this: void, input: Input) =&gt; input is unknown extends Input ? ResultType &amp; Input : Input extends ResultType ? Input : never | A type guard for this Type.                                                         |
+| [name](./types.basetypeimpl.name.md)                                        | <p><code>abstract</code></p><p><code>readonly</code></p> | string                                                                                                                                           | The name of the Type.                                                               |
+| [typeConfig](./types.basetypeimpl.typeconfig.md)                            | <p><code>abstract</code></p><p><code>readonly</code></p> | TypeConfig                                                                                                                                       | Extra information that is made available by this Type for runtime analysis.         |
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -37,13 +39,11 @@ All type-implementations must extend this base class. Use [createType()](./types
 | [andThen(fn)](./types.basetypeimpl.andthen.md)                                       |                                                           | Create a function with validated input.                                                                                         |
 | [assert(input)](./types.basetypeimpl.assert.md)                                      |                                                           | Verifies that a value conforms to this Type.                                                                                    |
 | [autoCaster(this, value)?](./types.basetypeimpl.autocaster.md)                       | <code>protected</code>                                    | _(Optional)_ The logic that is used in the autocasting version of the current type.                                             |
-| [check(input)](./types.basetypeimpl.check.md)                                        |                                                           | Asserts that a value conforms to this Type and returns the input as is, if it does.                                             |
 | [combineConfig(oldConfig, newConfig)](./types.basetypeimpl.combineconfig.md)         | <code>protected</code>                                    | Combine two config values into a new value.                                                                                     |
 | [construct(input)](./types.basetypeimpl.construct.md)                                |                                                           | Calls any registered parsers or auto-caster, verifies that the resulting value conforms to this Type and returns it if it does. |
 | [createAutoCastAllType()](./types.basetypeimpl.createautocastalltype.md)             | <code>protected</code>                                    |                                                                                                                                 |
 | [createResult(input, result, validatorResult)](./types.basetypeimpl.createresult.md) | <code>protected</code>                                    | Create a Result based on the given [ValidationResult](./types.validationresult.md)<!-- -->.                                     |
 | [extendWith(factory)](./types.basetypeimpl.extendwith.md)                            |                                                           | Extend the Type with additional static methods and properties.                                                                  |
-| [is(input)](./types.basetypeimpl.is.md)                                              |                                                           | A type guard for this Type.                                                                                                     |
 | [literal(input)](./types.basetypeimpl.literal.md)                                    |                                                           | Calls any registered parsers or auto-caster, verifies that the resulting value conforms to this Type and returns it if it does. |
 | [or(\_other)](./types.basetypeimpl.or.md)                                            |                                                           | Union this Type with another Type.                                                                                              |
 | [typeParser(input, options)?](./types.basetypeimpl.typeparser.md)                    | <code>protected</code>                                    | _(Optional)_ Optional pre-processing parser.                                                                                    |
diff --git a/src/base-type.test.ts b/src/base-type.test.ts
index f38c646..2b9a012 100644
--- a/src/base-type.test.ts
+++ b/src/base-type.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'assert';
 import { BaseTypeImpl } from './base-type.js';
 import type { The } from './interfaces.js';
 import { assignableTo, testTypes } from './testutils.js';
@@ -26,6 +27,27 @@ describe(BaseTypeImpl, () => {
             expect(value).toEqual({ key: 'value' });
         }
 
+        const array = [value, value];
+        if (array.every(string.is)) {
+            assignableTo<'a string'[]>(array);
+            assignableTo<typeof array>(['a string']);
+            expect(array).toEqual(['a string', 'a string']);
+        } else if (array.every(number.is)) {
+            assignableTo<123[]>(array);
+            assignableTo<typeof array>([123]);
+            expect(array).toEqual([123, 123]);
+        } else if (array.every(boolean.is)) {
+            assignableTo<false[]>(array);
+            assignableTo<typeof array>([false]);
+            expect(array).toEqual([false, false]);
+        } else if (array.every(unknownRecord.is)) {
+            assignableTo<{ key: 'value' }[]>(array);
+            assignableTo<typeof array>([{ key: 'value' }]);
+            expect(array).toEqual([{ key: 'value' }, { key: 'value' }]);
+        } else {
+            assert.fail('should have matched one of the other predicates');
+        }
+
         testTypes(() => {
             string.assert(value);
             assignableTo<'a string'>(value);
diff --git a/src/base-type.ts b/src/base-type.ts
index a2dace3..f11c178 100644
--- a/src/base-type.ts
+++ b/src/base-type.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ export abstract class BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig = unknown> implements
     private readonly _instanceCache: {
         autoCast?: BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig>;
         autoCastAll?: BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig>;
+        boundCheck?: BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig>['check'];
+        boundIs?: BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig>['is'];
     } = {};
 
     /**
@@ -192,9 +194,11 @@ export abstract class BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig = unknown> implements
      *
      * @param input - the value to check
      */
-    check(input: unknown): ResultType {
-        this.assert(input);
-        return input;
+    get check(): (this: void, input: unknown) => ResultType {
+        return (this._instanceCache.boundCheck ??= input => {
+            this.assert(input);
+            return input;
+        });
     }
 
     /**
@@ -272,8 +276,15 @@ export abstract class BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig = unknown> implements
     /**
      * A type guard for this Type.
      */
-    is(input: unknown): input is ResultType {
-        return this.validate(input, { mode: 'check' }).ok;
+    get is(): <Input>(
+        this: void,
+        input: Input,
+    ) => input is unknown extends Input ? ResultType & Input : Input extends ResultType ? Input : never {
+        this._instanceCache.boundIs ??= <Input>(
+            input: Input,
+        ): input is unknown extends Input ? ResultType & Input : Input extends ResultType ? Input : never =>
+            this.validate(input, { mode: 'check' }).ok;
+        return this._instanceCache.boundIs;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -381,7 +392,7 @@ export abstract class BaseTypeImpl<ResultType, TypeConfig = unknown> implements
             if (!baseResult.ok) {
                 return type.createResult(input, undefined, baseResult.details);
             }
-            const tryResult = ValidationError.try(
+            const tryResult = ValidationError.try<ValidationResult>(
                 { type, input },
                 // if no name is given, then default to the message "additional validation failed"
                 () => validation(baseResult.value, options) || 'additional validation failed',