intransitive/transitive (carry on something) to continue doing something
Carry on. You’re doingfine.
He moved to Atlanta to carry on his work.
For the moment we’ve been told to carry on as usual.
carry on with:
Justcarry on with what you were doing.
carry on doing something:
If you carry on spendingmoneylike that, you’ll end up in debt.
Synonyms and related words
To continue something, or to continue to do something
continue
go on
follow through
1a
intransitive to continue going in the same direction
Turnleft at the trafficlights and carry on up the highstreet.
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction
head
go
progress
1b
transitive to continue something that someone else started
Her daughterintends to carry on her mother’s research.
Synonyms and related words
To continue something, or to continue to do something
continue
go on
follow through
2
intransitive informalto behave in an angry, excited, or emotional way
“No matter how much you carry on, Mother,” saidSally. “I’m not going to marry him.”
Synonyms and related words
To show or express emotions
show
display
manifest
3
intransitive usually progressiveold-fashioned, showing disapprovalif two people are carrying on, they are having a sexual relationship that you do not approve of
Synonyms and related words
To have a romantic or sexual relationship
be an item
be seeing someone
carry on
carry on
phrasal verb
Other entries for this word
carry-onnoun
carry-onadjective
Carry On filmnoun
Word Forms
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
DEFINITIONS3
1
intransitive/transitive (carry on something) to continue doing something
Carry on. You’re doingfine.
He moved to London to carry on his work.
For the moment we’ve been told to carry on as usual.
carry on with:
Justcarry on with what you were doing.
carry on doing something:
If you carry on spendingmoneylike that, you’ll end up in debt.
Synonyms and related words
To continue something, or to continue to do something
continue
go on
follow through
1a
intransitive to continue going in the same direction
Turnleft at the trafficlights and carry on up the highstreet.
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction
head
go
progress
1b
transitive to continue something that someone else started
Her daughterintends to carry on her mother’s research.
Synonyms and related words
To continue something, or to continue to do something
continue
go on
follow through
2
intransitive informalto behave in an angry, excited, or emotional way
‘It’s no good you carrying on, Mother,’ saidSally. ‘I’m not going to marry him.’
Synonyms and related words
To show or express emotions
show
display
manifest
3
intransitive usually progressiveold-fashioned, showing disapprovalif two people are carrying on, they are having a sexual relationship that you do not approve of