1 car·ry
Pronounced:
/ˈkeri/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
car·ries; car·ried; car·ry·ingMeaning:
1 [+ obj] : to move (something) while holding and supporting it ▪ She helped me carry [=transport] the boxes out to my car. ▪ I'll carry your luggage to your room. ▪ He was carrying his baby daughter in his arms. ▪ For two months, I carried the book around with me everywhere I went. ▪ The waitress carried away our empty dinner plates. ▪ The wind carried the smoke away from the campsite. ▪ These planes can carry up to 300 passengers. ▪ a ship carrying thousands of gallons of oil —sometimes used figuratively ▪ Your talent will carry you far. [=it will make you very successful] ▪ She intended the play to carry audiences toward a sense of peace and understanding. ▪ She still carries the memories of an unhappy childhood. ▪ The song carries me back to [=it makes me remember] my first year of college.
2 [+ obj] : to contain and direct the flow of (water, electricity, etc.) ▪ Oil is carried to the factory through these pipes. ▪ We installed gutters that will carry water away from the house. ▪ blood vessels that carry blood to the heart ▪ These cables carry electricity to hundreds of homes. ▪ The bridge carries traffic in two directions.
3 [+ obj] : to have (something) with you or on your body ▪ Do police officers carry guns when they're off duty? ▪ This bus driver doesn't carry change, so please have the exact fare ready. ▪ I always carry $20 in case of an emergency. ▪ tourists carrying cameras
4 [+ obj] : to be able to give (a disease or a gene) to others even though you may not be affected by it ▪ One percent of the population now carries the virus, and one in three will suffer symptoms of the disease.
5 [+ obj] : to be pregnant with (a baby) ▪ She's carrying her second child.
6 [+ obj] : to hold (your body or your head) in a particular way ▪ He's over 80 years old and still carries himself erect/upright like a soldier. ▪ Be proud of yourself. Walk tall and carry your head high! ▪ She always carries [=(more formally) comports] herself with dignity and grace.
7 [+ obj] a : to have (something) in a store and ready to be sold : to keep (something) in stock ▪ Our grocery store carries a good selection of wines. ▪ We no longer carry that brand. b : to have (someone or something) on a list or record ▪ The company carries nearly 200 employees on its payroll.
8 [+ obj] a : to have (something) as a quality or characteristic ▪ All of our products carry a lifetime guarantee. ▪ Your promises would carry more weight [=they would be more meaningful] if you didn't break them so often. b : to be marked or labeled with (something) ▪ Cigarettes are required to carry a government health warning. ▪ men who carry the physical scars of war
9 [+ obj] : to have (something) as a result or consequence ▪ Such crimes carry [=entail, involve] a heavy penalty. ▪ The surgery does carry certain risks. —often + with ▪ You must understand that the job carries with it great responsibility.
10 [+ obj] : to have (something) as a duty or responsibility ▪ I'm carrying a full course load this semester. ▪ He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. [=he feels much pressure because he has great responsibilities]
11 [+ obj] : to be responsible for the success of (something or someone) ▪ He's a player that's capable of carrying a team on his own. ▪ Her spectacular performance as Carmen carried the opera.
12 a [+ obj] : to make (something) continue ▪ They carried [=took, extended] the game into the 10th inning. ▪ The newspaper carried the story over to the following page. ▪ The design calls for the columns to be carried all the way up to the top of the building. ▪ carrying the war to another continent b [no obj] : to travel a long distance ▪ His deep voice carries well. ▪ Baseballs don't carry well in cold weather.
13 [+ obj] : to continue (something) beyond a normal or acceptable limit ▪ He realized that he had carried the joke too far and hurt her feelings. —see also carry (something) to extremes at 2extreme
14 [+ obj] : to sing (a tune) correctly ▪ I've never been able to carry a tune.
15 [+ obj] : to present (a story, sports event, TV show, etc.) to the public ▪ Channel 9 will carry the game. ▪ Every local newspaper carried [=ran] the photograph. ▪ The trial was carried live [=broadcast as it was happening] on television.
16 a : to cause (a bill or an official proposal) to be passed or adopted [+ obj] —often used as (be) carried ▪ The bill was carried in the Senate by a vote of 75–25. [no obj] ▪ He called for a motion to stop debate, but the motion did not carry. ▪ The motion carried unanimously. [=everyone voted to pass it] b [+ obj] chiefly US : to win a majority of votes in (a state, legislature, etc.) ▪ The bill carried the Senate by a vote of 75–25. ▪ In the presidential election of 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt carried [=won, took] all the states except Maine and Vermont.
17 [+ obj] : to move (a number) from one column to another when you are adding numbers together ▪ When you added these two numbers, you forgot to carry the 1.
2 [+ obj] : to contain and direct the flow of (water, electricity, etc.) ▪ Oil is carried to the factory through these pipes. ▪ We installed gutters that will carry water away from the house. ▪ blood vessels that carry blood to the heart ▪ These cables carry electricity to hundreds of homes. ▪ The bridge carries traffic in two directions.
3 [+ obj] : to have (something) with you or on your body ▪ Do police officers carry guns when they're off duty? ▪ This bus driver doesn't carry change, so please have the exact fare ready. ▪ I always carry $20 in case of an emergency. ▪ tourists carrying cameras
4 [+ obj] : to be able to give (a disease or a gene) to others even though you may not be affected by it ▪ One percent of the population now carries the virus, and one in three will suffer symptoms of the disease.
5 [+ obj] : to be pregnant with (a baby) ▪ She's carrying her second child.
6 [+ obj] : to hold (your body or your head) in a particular way ▪ He's over 80 years old and still carries himself erect/upright like a soldier. ▪ Be proud of yourself. Walk tall and carry your head high! ▪ She always carries [=(more formally) comports] herself with dignity and grace.
7 [+ obj] a : to have (something) in a store and ready to be sold : to keep (something) in stock ▪ Our grocery store carries a good selection of wines. ▪ We no longer carry that brand. b : to have (someone or something) on a list or record ▪ The company carries nearly 200 employees on its payroll.
8 [+ obj] a : to have (something) as a quality or characteristic ▪ All of our products carry a lifetime guarantee. ▪ Your promises would carry more weight [=they would be more meaningful] if you didn't break them so often. b : to be marked or labeled with (something) ▪ Cigarettes are required to carry a government health warning. ▪ men who carry the physical scars of war
9 [+ obj] : to have (something) as a result or consequence ▪ Such crimes carry [=entail, involve] a heavy penalty. ▪ The surgery does carry certain risks. —often + with ▪ You must understand that the job carries with it great responsibility.
10 [+ obj] : to have (something) as a duty or responsibility ▪ I'm carrying a full course load this semester. ▪ He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. [=he feels much pressure because he has great responsibilities]
11 [+ obj] : to be responsible for the success of (something or someone) ▪ He's a player that's capable of carrying a team on his own. ▪ Her spectacular performance as Carmen carried the opera.
12 a [+ obj] : to make (something) continue ▪ They carried [=took, extended] the game into the 10th inning. ▪ The newspaper carried the story over to the following page. ▪ The design calls for the columns to be carried all the way up to the top of the building. ▪ carrying the war to another continent b [no obj] : to travel a long distance ▪ His deep voice carries well. ▪ Baseballs don't carry well in cold weather.
13 [+ obj] : to continue (something) beyond a normal or acceptable limit ▪ He realized that he had carried the joke too far and hurt her feelings. —see also carry (something) to extremes at 2extreme
14 [+ obj] : to sing (a tune) correctly ▪ I've never been able to carry a tune.
15 [+ obj] : to present (a story, sports event, TV show, etc.) to the public ▪ Channel 9 will carry the game. ▪ Every local newspaper carried [=ran] the photograph. ▪ The trial was carried live [=broadcast as it was happening] on television.
16 a : to cause (a bill or an official proposal) to be passed or adopted [+ obj] —often used as (be) carried ▪ The bill was carried in the Senate by a vote of 75–25. [no obj] ▪ He called for a motion to stop debate, but the motion did not carry. ▪ The motion carried unanimously. [=everyone voted to pass it] b [+ obj] chiefly US : to win a majority of votes in (a state, legislature, etc.) ▪ The bill carried the Senate by a vote of 75–25. ▪ In the presidential election of 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt carried [=won, took] all the states except Maine and Vermont.
17 [+ obj] : to move (a number) from one column to another when you are adding numbers together ▪ When you added these two numbers, you forgot to carry the 1.
be/get carried away
: to be so excited that you are no longer in control of your behavior ▪ I shouldn't have behaved like that. I just got carried away. ▪ Just relax! There's no need to get carried away. ▪ They allowed themselves to be carried away by fear.
carry all/everything before you
literary : to be completely successful ▪ This young boxer has the talent to carry all before him.
carry a torch for —see 1torch
carry coals to Newcastle —see coal
carry into effect —see 1effect
carry off [phrasal verb]
carry off (something) or carry (something) off 1 : to do (something difficult) successfully : to achieve or accomplish (something) ▪ He tried to look cool but couldn't carry it off. [=pull it off] ▪ She's the only actress I know with enough talent to carry this off.
2 : to win (something) ▪ We carried off the prize.
2 : to win (something) ▪ We carried off the prize.
carry on [phrasal verb]
1 : to continue to do what you have been doing ▪ I didn't mean to interrupt you—please carry on. ▪ She carried on as if nothing had happened. : to continue despite problems ▪ I know it's difficult, but you need to carry on as best you can.
2 : to behave or speak in an excited or foolish way ▪ They laughed and carried on like they were old friends. ▪ We were embarrassed by the way he was carrying on. ▪ She's always carrying on [=talking in an excited way] about her neighbors. ▪ screaming, crying, and carrying on —see also carryings-on, carry-on
3 carry on (something) a : to manage or participate in (an activity) ▪ She carried on an affair with her boss. ▪ It's too noisy in here to carry on a conversation. ▪ The police are carrying on [=conducting] an investigation into his murder. ▪ carrying on a campaign against illegal drug use b : to continue doing (something) ▪ The money allows us to carry on our research. ▪ Although the teacher spoke to them, they just carried on [=went on, kept on] talking. c : to cause (something, such as a tradition) to continue ▪ We were the only ones left to carry on the tradition. ▪ carrying on the family name
4 carry on with (something) : to continue doing or participating in (an activity) ▪ Please carry on with what you were doing. ▪ They carried on with their conversation.
5 carry on with (someone) chiefly Brit old-fashioned : to have an often immoral sexual relationship with (someone) ▪ I found out that he had been carrying on with [=(more commonly) fooling around with] my sister.
2 : to behave or speak in an excited or foolish way ▪ They laughed and carried on like they were old friends. ▪ We were embarrassed by the way he was carrying on. ▪ She's always carrying on [=talking in an excited way] about her neighbors. ▪ screaming, crying, and carrying on —see also carryings-on, carry-on
3 carry on (something) a : to manage or participate in (an activity) ▪ She carried on an affair with her boss. ▪ It's too noisy in here to carry on a conversation. ▪ The police are carrying on [=conducting] an investigation into his murder. ▪ carrying on a campaign against illegal drug use b : to continue doing (something) ▪ The money allows us to carry on our research. ▪ Although the teacher spoke to them, they just carried on [=went on, kept on] talking. c : to cause (something, such as a tradition) to continue ▪ We were the only ones left to carry on the tradition. ▪ carrying on the family name
4 carry on with (something) : to continue doing or participating in (an activity) ▪ Please carry on with what you were doing. ▪ They carried on with their conversation.
5 carry on with (someone) chiefly Brit old-fashioned : to have an often immoral sexual relationship with (someone) ▪ I found out that he had been carrying on with [=(more commonly) fooling around with] my sister.
carry out [phrasal verb]
carry (something) out or carry out (something) 1 : to do and complete (something) ▪ We carried out several experiments to test the theory. ▪ An investigation carried out several years ago revealed no new information.
2 : to act on (a promise, plan, etc.) : to do something that you said you would do or that someone has asked you to do ▪ She failed to carry out [=fulfill] her promise. ▪ The town has plans to build a new school, but it currently lacks the money to carry them out. ▪ You'll be paid when you've carried out [=executed] your instructions/orders/duties. —see also carryout
2 : to act on (a promise, plan, etc.) : to do something that you said you would do or that someone has asked you to do ▪ She failed to carry out [=fulfill] her promise. ▪ The town has plans to build a new school, but it currently lacks the money to carry them out. ▪ You'll be paid when you've carried out [=executed] your instructions/orders/duties. —see also carryout
carry over [phrasal verb]
1 : to continue to exist or be seen in another place or situation ▪ His unhappiness at home carried over into/to his work. ▪ Her abilities in singing didn't carry over to acting.
2 carry (something) over or carry over (something) : to cause or allow (something) to continue in another place or situation ▪ People can carry bad eating habits learned in childhood over to/into adulthood. —see also carryover
2 carry (something) over or carry over (something) : to cause or allow (something) to continue in another place or situation ▪ People can carry bad eating habits learned in childhood over to/into adulthood. —see also carryover
carry the ball —see 1ball
carry the can —see 2can
carry the day —see day
carry the torch —see 1torch
carry through [phrasal verb]
1 a : to continue to exist or happen —usually + to ▪ The yellow and blue theme in the kitchen carries through to the rest of the house. ▪ Our conversation carried through to dessert. b : to continue to do something —usually + to ▪ Though extremely tired, she managed to carry through to the finish.
2 carry through with/on (something) US : to do (something that you said you would do) ▪ The mayor carried through [=followed through] on her promise to clean up the city. ▪ We're beginning to carry through with [=carry out] our plans.
3 carry (something) through : to successfully finish or complete (something that you have begun or said you will do) ▪ Whatever project you begin, you must carry it through to completion.
4 a carry (someone) through : to help or allow (someone) to survive or continue ▪ We had enough supplies to carry us through (until spring). ▪ His faith carried him through. b carry (someone) through (something) : to help or allow (someone) to survive or continue during (a period of time) ▪ We had enough supplies to carry us through the winter. ▪ His faith carried him through a difficult time in his life. ▪ I borrowed a few more books to carry me through the summer.
2 carry through with/on (something) US : to do (something that you said you would do) ▪ The mayor carried through [=followed through] on her promise to clean up the city. ▪ We're beginning to carry through with [=carry out] our plans.
3 carry (something) through : to successfully finish or complete (something that you have begun or said you will do) ▪ Whatever project you begin, you must carry it through to completion.
4 a carry (someone) through : to help or allow (someone) to survive or continue ▪ We had enough supplies to carry us through (until spring). ▪ His faith carried him through. b carry (someone) through (something) : to help or allow (someone) to survive or continue during (a period of time) ▪ We had enough supplies to carry us through the winter. ▪ His faith carried him through a difficult time in his life. ▪ I borrowed a few more books to carry me through the summer.
fetch and carry —see fetch