definition of 

carry

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verb  /ˈkæri/ 

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present tense
I/you/we/they	carry
he/she/it	carries
present participle	carrying
past tense	carried
past participle	carried

phrases

• as fast as your legs can carry you

  at the quickest speed that you can run

  Her son hurtled down the drive as fast as his little legs could carry him.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: quickly, fast, rapid, hasty, hurried... more

• be carrying five stone/a few pounds/a little bit etc

  to weigh more than you should by a particular amount

  He was in his mid-forties, I guessed, and carrying a bit of extra weight.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: fat, overweight, obese, plump, ample... more

• carry all/everything before you

  to be extremely successful and defeat all your opponents

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: thrive, prosper, succeed, establish, be a roaring success... more

• carry the can

  British informal
  to be the person considered responsible for something

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: answer for, accept, accept/face the consequences, be meant to do something, bear the responsibility... more

• carry conviction

  British
  to be capable of persuading someone that something is true or real

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: persuasive, convincing, unconvincing, smooth-talking, silver-tongued... more

• carry a (heavy) load/burden

  to have responsibility for something difficult or unpleasant

  He carries the heavy burden of leadership.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: suffer, undergo, come under, endure, incur... more

• carry something in your head/mind

  to remember information correctly without having to write it down

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: remember, recall, think back, recollect, relive... more

• carry a torch for someone

  to be in love with someone, usually when they do not realize this

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: love, care for, adore, dote on, fall in love... more

• carry a tune

  to sing musical notes correctly

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: sing, sing along, croon, chant, sing out... more

• carry weight

  to be respected and have influence

  Dr Watson has worked in the region for 40 years, and his opinions carry great weight.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: matter, figure, emphasize, count, predominate... more

• carry yourself

  to hold or move your body in a particular way

  You’re tall and you carry yourself extremely well.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: more

• get carried away

  to become so excited or involved in something that you lose control of your feelings or behaviour

  Let’s not get carried away. The deal could still fall through.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: thrill, exult, swoon, crackle, go mad... more

phrasal verbs

carry forward

[transitive]

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present tense
I/you/we/they	carry forward
he/she/it	carries forward
present participle	carrying forward
past tense	carried forward
past participle	carried forward

1. 1

   to take the total of a column of numbers from the bottom of one page to the top of the next

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: calculate, count, estimate, reckon, add up... more
2. 2

   to take something such as money or holidays that are available for you to use in one period of time into the next one

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: set aside, collect, set apart, store up, store... more

carry off

[transitive]

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present tense
I/you/we/they	carry off
he/she/it	carries off
present participle	carrying off
past tense	carried off
past participle	carried off

1. 1

   to deal successfully with something difficult

   Both actors have the stylish self-confidence needed to carry off these roles.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: cope, overcome, surmount, work out, handle... more
2. 2

   to win a prize

   At last week’s Oscars, a small number of films carried off nearly all the prizes.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: award, walk off with, take, sweep, pocket... more

carry on

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present tense
I/you/we/they	carry on
he/she/it	carries on
present participle	carrying on
past tense	carried on
past participle	carried on

1. 1

   [intransitive/transitive] carry on something to continue doing something

   Carry on. You’re doing fine.

   He moved to London to carry on his work.

   For the moment we’ve been told to carry on as usual.

   carry on with:

   Just carry on with what you were doing.

   carry on doing something:

   If you carry on spending money like that, you’ll end up in debt.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: continue, go on, follow through, persist, press ahead... more

   1. a.

      [intransitive] to continue going in the same direction

      Turn left at the traffic lights and carry on up the high street.

      Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: head, go, progress, flow, walk on... more
   2. b.

      [transitive] to continue something that someone else started

      Her daughter intends to carry on her mother’s research.

      Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: continue, go on, follow through, persist, press ahead... more
2. 2

   [intransitive] informal to behave in an angry, excited, or emotional way

   ‘It’s no good you carrying on, Mother,’ said Sally. ‘I’m not going to marry him.’

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: show, display, manifest, express yourself, make no secret of something... more
3. 3

   [intransitive] [usually progressive] old-fashioned, showing disapproval if two people are carrying on, they are having a sexual relationship that you do not approve of

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: more

carry out

[transitive]

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present tense
I/you/we/they	carry out
he/she/it	carries out
present participle	carrying out
past tense	carried out
past participle	carried out

to do a particular piece of work, research etc

The building work was carried out by a local contractor.

An investigation is being carried out by the prison governor.

Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: do, perform, conduct, make, pursue... more

1. a.

   to do something that you have said you will do or that you have been told to do

   I expect my instructions to be carried out to the letter.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: do, perform, conduct, make, pursue... more

Collocations: carry

▪  assessment, check, experiment, inquiry, inspection, investigation, research, review, search, study, survey, test

carry over

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present tense
I/you/we/they	carry over
he/she/it	carries over
present participle	carrying over
past tense	carried over
past participle	carried over

1. 1

   [intransitive/transitive] if something carries over or is carried over from one situation into another, it has the same effect in the new situation as it had in the old one

   Stresses at work can often be carried over into your home life.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: go on, go along, persist, live on, outlive... more
2. 2

   [transitive] to take something that you earn or are given in one year or period of time into the next one

   You are not allowed to carry over holiday entitlement from one year into the next.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: set aside, collect, set apart, store up, store... more

carry through

[transitive]

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present tense
I/you/we/they	carry through
he/she/it	carries through
present participle	carrying through
past tense	carried through
past participle	carried through

1. 1

   carry something through to complete something that was planned, often despite difficulties or opposition

   It’s a tough job, and we’re relying on you to carry it through.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: complete, end, conclude, get through, clear... more
2. 2

   carry someone through (something) to make it possible for someone to deal successfully with a difficult or unpleasant situation

   In the end, it was her passionate belief in justice that carried her through.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of carry: help, assist, support, help out, put yourself out (for someone)... more