Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense carries, present participle carrying, past tense, past participle carried
1. verb
If you carry something, you take it with you, holding it so that it does not touch the ground.
He was carrying a briefcase. [VERB noun]
He carried the plate through to the dining room. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
She carried her son to the car. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
If your job involves a lot of paperwork, you're going to need something to carryit all in. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: convey, take, move, bring More Synonyms of carry
2. verb
If you carry something, you have it with you wherever you go.
You have to carry a bleeper so that they can call you in at any time. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If something carries a person or thing somewhere, it takes them there.
Flowers are designed to attract insects which then carry the pollen from plant toplant. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
The delegation was carrying a message of thanks to the president. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
The ship could carry seventy passengers. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: transport, take, transfer, transmit More Synonyms of carry
4. verb
If a person or animal is carrying a disease, they are infected with it and can pass it on to other people or animals.
He has been carrying the HIV virus for 12 years. [VERB noun]
Frogs eat pests which destroy crops and carry diseases. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: transmit, transfer, spread, pass on More Synonyms of carry
5. verb [no passive, no cont]
If an action or situation has a particular quality or consequence, you can say that it carries it.
Check that any medication you're taking carries no risk for your developing baby. [VERB noun]
However, professionalism carries a price. [VERB noun]
6. verb
If a quality or advantage carries someone into a particular position or through a difficult situation, it helps them to achieve that position or deal with that situation.
He had the ruthless streak necessary to carry him into the Cabinet. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
The warmth and strength of their relationship carried them through difficult times. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
7. verb
If you carry an idea or a method to a particular extent, you use or develop it to that extent.
It's not such a new idea, but I carried it to extremes. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
We could carry that one step further by taking the same genes and putting them intoanother crop. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
8. verb
If a newspaper or poster carries a picture or a piece of writing, it contains it or displays it.
Several papers carry the photograph of Mr Anderson. [VERB noun]
9. verb [usually passive]
In a debate, if a proposal or motion is carried, a majority of people vote in favour of it.
A motion backing its economic policy was carried by 322 votes to 296. [beVERB-ed]
10. verb [no cont]
If a crime carries a particular punishment, a person who is found guilty of that crime will receive that punishment.
It was a crime of espionage and carried the death penalty. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: entail, involve, lead to, occasion [formal] More Synonyms of carry
11. verb
If a sound carries, it can be heard a long way away.
Even in this stillness Leaphorn doubted if the sound would carry far. [VERB adverb]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: be audible, travel, be heard More Synonyms of carry
12. verb [no passive]
If a candidate or party carries a state or area, they win the election in that state or area.
[US]
At that time George W. Bush carried the state with 56 percent of the vote. [VERB noun]
regional note: in BRIT, usually use take
13. verb
If you carryyourself in a particular way, you walk and move in that way.
They carried themselves with great pride and dignity. [VERB pronoun-reflexive preposition/adverb]
14. verb [usually cont]
If a woman is carrying a child, she is pregnant.
[old-fashioned]
She claims to be able to predict whether you're carrying a boy or a girl. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: be expecting, be pregnant with More Synonyms of carry
15.
See to get/be carried away
16.
See to carry all before you
17. to carry the can
18. to carry conviction
19. to carry the day
20. to carry weight
Phrasal verbs:
See carry off
See carry on
See carry out
See carry over
See carry through
More Synonyms of carry
carry in British English
(ˈkærɪ)
verbWord forms: -ries, -rying or -ried(mainly tr)
1. (also intr)
to take or bear (something) from one place to another
to carry a baby in one's arms
2.
to transfer for consideration; take
he carried his complaints to her superior
3.
to have on one's person
he always carries a watch
4. (also intr)
to be transmitted or serve as a medium for transmitting
sound carries best over water
5.
to contain or be capable of containing
the jug carries water
6.
to bear or be able to bear the weight, pressure, or responsibility of
her efforts carry the whole production
7.
to have as an attribute or result
this crime carries a heavy penalty
8.
to bring or communicate
to carry news
9. (also intr)
to be pregnant with (young)
she is carrying her third child
10.
to bear (the head, body, etc) in a specified manner
she carried her head high
11.
to conduct or bear (oneself) in a specified manner
she carried herself well in a difficult situation
12.
to continue or extend
the war was carried into enemy territory
13.
to cause to move or go
desire for riches carried him to the city
14.
to influence, esp by emotional appeal
his words carried the crowd
15.
to secure the passage of (a bill, motion, etc)
16.
to win (an election)
17.
to obtain victory for (a candidate or measure) in an election
18. mainly US
to win a plurality or majority of votes in (a district, legislative body, etc)
the candidate carried 40 states
19.
to capture
our troops carried the town
20.
(of communications media) to include as the content
this newspaper carries no book reviews
21. accounting
to transfer (an item) to another account, esp to transfer to the following year'saccount instead of writing off against profit and loss
to carry a loss
Also (esp US): carry over
22. mathematics
to transfer (a number) from one column of figures to the next, as from units to tens in multiplication and addition
23.
(of a shop, trader, etc) to keep in stock
to carry confectionery
24.
to support (a musical part or melody) against the other parts
25.
to sustain (livestock)
this land will carry twelve ewes to the acre
26.
to maintain (livestock) in good health but without increasing their weight or obtainingany products from them
27. (intransitive)
(of a ball, projectile, etc) to travel through the air or reach a specified point
his first drive carried to the green
28. sport, especially golf
(of a ball) to travel beyond
the drive carried the trees
29. (intransitive)
(of a gun) to have a range as specified
this rifle carries for 1200 yards
30.
to retain contact with and pursue (a line of scent)
31. (intransitive)
(of ground) to be in such a condition that scent lies well upon it
32. ice hockey
to move (the puck) forwards, keeping it against the blade of the stick
33. informal
to imbibe (alcoholic drink) without showing ill effects
34. (intransitive) slang
to have drugs on one's person
35. carry all before one
36. carry a tune
37. carry the can
38. carry the day
nounWord forms: plural-ries
39.
the act of carrying
40. US and Canadian
a portion of land over which a boat must be portaged
41.
the range of a firearm or its projectile
42.
the distance travelled by a ball, etc, esp (in golf) the distance from where the ball is struck to where it first touches the ground
Word origin
C14 carien, from Old Northern French carier to move by vehicle, from car, from Latin carrum transport wagon; see car
carry in American English
(ˈkæri)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcarried or ˈcarrying
1.
to hold or support while moving
to carry a package
2.
to take from one place to another; transport, as in a vehicle
to carry the mail
3.
to hold, and direct the motion of; be a channel for; convey
a pipe carrying water
4.
to cause to go; lead or impel
his ambition carried him to the top
5.
to be a medium for the transmission of
air carries sounds
6.
to transfer or extend
to carry a wall along a precipice
7.
to transfer (a figure, entry, account, etc.) from one column, page, time, etc. to the next in order
8.
a.
to bear the weight of
the balusters carry a railing
b.
to support or sustain
when others were injured, Jones carried the team
9.
to be pregnant with
10.
a.
to bear as a mark
b.
to have as a quality, characteristic, consequence, etc.; involve; imply
to carry a guarantee
11.
to have on one's person or keep with one
to carry a watch, to carry memories
12.
to hold or poise (oneself, one's weight, etc.) in a specified way
13.
to conduct (oneself) in a specified way
14. US
to include as part of its contents or program schedule
said of a newspaper, radio or TV station, etc.
15.
to have or keep on a list or register
to be carried on the tax list
16.
a. US
to support financially
b.
to bear the cost of
to carry insurance on a car
17.
to enable (an opponent, a subordinate, etc.) to continue through one's own efforts, generosity, etc.
18.
to capture (a fortress, etc.)
19.
to win over, lead, or influence (a group)
20.
a.
to gain support or victory for (a cause, point, etc.)
b.
to win (an election, argument, etc.)
c.
to gain a majority of the votes in (a district, state, etc.)
21.
to drink (liquor) without showing the effects
22. South
to accompany; escort
23. US, Business
a.
to keep in stock; deal in
to carry leather goods
b.
to keep on one's account books, etc.
24. Agriculture
a.
to bear as a crop; produce
b.
to support (livestock)
25. Golf
to go past or beyond (an object or expanse) or cover (a distance) with one stroke
26. Hunting
to keep and follow (a scent)
27. Music
to sing the notes of (a melody or part) accurately
verb intransitive
28.
to act as a bearer, conductor, etc.
29.
a.
to have or cover a range
the shot carried to the next hill
b.
to move easily through the air
said of a propelled object
30.
to have the intended effect upon those watching or listening
31.
to hold the head, etc. in a specified way
said of a horse
32.
to win approval
the motion carried
nounWord forms: pluralˈcarries
33.
the range of, or distance covered by, a gun, golf ball, projectile, etc.
34. US
a portage between two navigable bodies of water
35.
the act or manner of carrying
Idioms:
be carried away
carry forward
carry off
carry on
carry out
carry over
carry through
SYNONYMY NOTE: carry means to take something from one place to another and implies a person as the agentor the use of a vehicle or other medium; , bear1 emphasizes the support of the weight or the importance of that which is carried [to be borne on a sedan chair, to bear good tidings]; convey, often simply a formal equivalent of , carry, is preferred where continuous movement is involved [the boxes are conveyed on a moving belt] or where passage by means of an agent or medium is implied [words convey ideas]; transport is applied to the movement of goods or people from one place to another, esp. overlong distances; , transmit stresses causal agency in the sending or conducting of things [the telegrapher transmitted the message]
Word origin
ME carien < Anglo-Fr carier < NormFr carre, car1
carry in Retail
(kæri)
Word forms: (present) carries, (past) carried, (perfect) carried, (progressive) carrying
verb
(Retail: Merchandising)
If a store carries a certain product or category of product, it offers it for sale.
The company carried a wide assortment of industrial products from ladders and generators to mops andcleaning supplies.
A typical store may carry up to 12,000 items and a megastore 50,000 items.
If a store carries a certain product or category of product, it offers it for sale.
More idioms containing
carry
carry the day
carry all before you
carry the can
carry a big stick
carry a torch for someone
carry the torch for something
carry weight
carry the weight of the world on your shoulders
Examples of 'carry' in a sentence
carry
The people carrying out the work are putting themselves at great risk.
The Sun (2017)
We were not getting carried away after the first few games.
The Sun (2016)
They can carry chemicals that would otherwise be blocked by the body.
The Sun (2016)
Some of the alleged crimes were carried out on Swiss territory.
The Sun (2016)
At university, she was helped by her father to find a practical car that could carry her boat and equipment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Police said that the attack was probably carried out by one person.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Will she carry on for another two decades at the top?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are trained to attack people carrying weapons.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Visitors carried away by this current will emerge as refreshed as the paintings themselves now feel.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are very unlikely to carry out a crime like this.
The Sun (2009)
It is very rare that a venal person carries out a malign plot with exquisite skill.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You can only carry on doing that for a short period.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What is the best way to carry my luggage?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They announced that my father had carried out an act of great importance.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
He gave crucial first aid and carried him through enemy fire to safety.
The Sun (2008)
Yesterday a fleet of boats carried flowers to the yacht.
The Sun (2007)
It must carry its own legitimacy and staying power with it.
Kantrow, Alan M. The Constraints of Corporate Tradition (1987)
It would be unfair to get carried away after one game.
The Sun (2010)
Perhaps that will carry over into another record and perhaps a new tour.
The Sun (2012)
People began carrying home individual items for cleaning and restoration.
Christianity Today (2000)
The main challenge was how to provide the best advice and not get too carried away.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The crime carries the death penalty there.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
carry
British English: carry /ˈkærɪ/ VERB
If you carry something, you take it with you, holding it so that it does not touch the ground.
He was carrying a briefcase.
American English: carry
Arabic: يَحْمِلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: carregar
Chinese: 运送
Croatian: nositi
Czech: nést
Danish: bære
Dutch: dragen sjouwen
European Spanish: llevar
Finnish: kantaa
French: porter poids
German: tragen
Greek: μεταφέρω
Italian: portare
Japanese: 運ぶ
Korean: ...을 운반하다
Norwegian: bære
Polish: nieść
European Portuguese: carregar
Romanian: a duce
Russian: нести
Latin American Spanish: llevar
Swedish: bära
Thai: ขนส่ง
Turkish: taşımak
Ukrainian: нести
Vietnamese: mang
All related terms of 'carry'
carry-cot
→ carrier (sense 5 )
carry-in
of or relating to a type of after-sales service in which the customer must take the product to the service provider for repair
carry off
If you carry something off , you do it successfully.
carry on
If you carry on doing something, you continue to do it.
carry out
If you carry out a threat , task , or instruction , you do it or act according to it.
carry away
to remove forcefully
carry back
to apply (a legally permitted credit , esp an operating loss ) to the taxable income of previous years in order to ease the overall tax burden
carry over
If something carries over or is carried over from one situation to another, it continues to exist or apply in the new situation.
carry trade
a speculative transaction in which a trader buys the currency of a country with a high rate of interest and sells the currency of a country with a low rate of interest
carry disease
A disease is an illness which affects people, animals, or plants, for example one which is caused by bacteria or infection .
carry forward
to transfer (a balance ) to the next page , column , etc
carry through
If you carry something through , you do it or complete it, often in spite of difficulties .
carry weight
to be respected and able to influence people
carry a flag
A flag is a piece of cloth which can be attached to a pole and which is used as a sign , signal, or symbol of something, especially of a particular country.
carry a tune
to be able to sing in tune
carry-on bag
a small bag that is taken inside an aircraft by hand personally by a passenger
carry conviction
to be convincing
carry the ball
to assume responsibility ; take command
carry the can
to take the blame for something even though you are not the only person responsible for it
carry the day
if a person or their opinion carries the day in a contest or debate , they win it
cash-and-carry
A cash-and-carry is a large shop where you can buy goods in larger quantities and at lower prices than in ordinary shops. Cash-and-carries are mainly used by people in business to buy goods for their shops or companies.
carry a message
The message that someone is trying to communicate , for example in a book or play, is the idea or point that they are trying to communicate.
carry one's bat
(of an opening batsman ) to reach the end of an innings without being dismissed
carry-on luggage
luggage that is taken inside an aircraft by hand personally by a passenger
carry responsibility
If you have responsibility for something or someone, or if they are your responsibility , it is your job or duty to deal with them and to take decisions relating to them.
carry the torch
If you say that someone is carrying the torch of a particular belief or movement, you mean that they are working hard to ensure that it is not forgotten and continues to grow stronger.
fetch and carry
If you fetch and carry , you perform simple , often boring tasks for someone, such as collecting and carrying things for them.
to carry the can
If you have to carry the can , you have to take all the blame for something.
to carry the day
If someone carries the day , they are the winner in a contest such as a battle , debate , or sporting competition .
to carry weight
If a person or their opinion carries weight , they are respected and are able to influence people.
carryout
designating or of prepared food sold as by a restaurant to be eaten away from the premises
carry a big stick
to have a lot of power, and therefore be able to get what you want
carry a torch for
If you say that someone is carrying a torch for someone else, you mean that they secretly admire them or love them.
to carry conviction
If something carries conviction , it is likely to be true or likely to be believed .
carry all before one
to win unanimous support or approval for oneself
carry all before you
to achieve great success in a task or competition
carry off one's feet
to fill with enthusiasm
to carry all before you
If a person or team carries all before them, they succeed very easily .
carry a torch for someone
to be in love with someone who does not love you, or who is already involved with another person
carry the torch for something
to support something, such as a political party or a particular belief , very strongly and try to persuade other people to support it too
to carry sth to extremes
to overdo something
go/take/carry (sthg) to extremes
If a person goes to extremes or takes something to extremes , they do or say something in a way that people consider to be unacceptable , unreasonable , or foolish .
go/take/carry (sth) to extremes
If a person goes to extremes or takes something to extremes , they do or say something in a way that people consider to be unacceptable , unreasonable , or foolish .
(put/bring/carry) sth into effect
If you put , bring , or carry a plan or idea into effect , you cause it to happen in practice .
bear the palm
to be the winner ; take the prize
carried
to take or bear (something) from one place to another
contango
(formerly, on the London Stock Exchange ) postponement of payment for and delivery of stock from one account day to the next
carry the weight of the world on your shoulders
to have very many troubles or responsibilities
Chinese translation of 'carry'
carry
(ˈkærɪ)
vt
[person]抱 (bào)
(by hand with the arm down) 提 (tí)
(on one's back) 背(揹) (bēi)
(by hand) 拿 (ná)
⇒ She carried her son to the car.她把儿子抱到车上。 (Tā bǎ érzi bào dào chē shang.)
(= take)[message]传(傳)递(遞) (chuándì)
⇒ He was carrying a message of thanks to the President.他代人向总统表达了谢意。 (Tā dài rén xiàng zǒngtǒng biǎodále xièyì.)
(= have on person) 带(帶)着(著) (dàizhe)
⇒ He always carried a gun.他总是带着枪。 (Tā zǒngshì dàizhe qiāng.)
(= transport)[ship, plane]运(運)载(載) (yùnzài)
⇒ The ship could carry seventy passengers.这只船能载70名乘客。 (Zhè zhī chuán néng zài qīshí míng chéngkè.)
(= pass)[motion, bill]通过(過) (tōngguò)
⇒ The motion was carried by 259 votes to 162.这项提案以259对162票通过。 (Zhè xiàng tí'àn yǐ èrbǎi wǔshíjiǔ duì yībǎi liùshíèr piào tōngguò.)