Definition

1. Verb:
   • To support and move (someone or something) from one place to another: The basic meaning of "carry" is to hold something or someone and take them to a different location.
   • To have with you as you go somewhere: To take something with you, often on your person.
   • To support the weight of something: To bear or hold up a physical load or a responsibility.
   • To contain and direct the flow of something: To serve as a channel or medium for something like water, sound, or electricity.
   • To have as a feature or consequence: To involve or result in something as an inherent part.
   • To win or secure approval for something: To succeed in getting a vote, motion, or election.
   • To behave or conduct oneself in a specified way: To hold or move one's body in a particular manner.

Usage Examples

• To support and move:
  • She helped me carry the heavy boxes upstairs.
  • This pipeline carries oil across the country.
• To have with you:
  • Do you always carry your passport when you travel?
  • I never carry much cash.
• To support weight/responsibility:
  • These columns carry the weight of the entire roof.
  • He carries a lot of responsibility in his job.
• To contain and direct flow:
  • Copper wires carry electricity efficiently.
  • Her voice carries well in the large hall.
• To have as a feature:
  • The crime carries a maximum penalty of ten years.
  • This bank account carries a high interest rate.
• To win approval:
  • The motion to increase funding was carried unanimously.
  • The senator carried his home state in the election.
• To behave/conduct oneself:
  • She carries herself with great confidence.

Advanced Usage

• "to carry the day": to be victorious or successful.
  • Their strong arguments carried the day in the debate.
• "to carry weight": to have influence or importance.
  • Her opinion carries a lot of weight with the committee.
• "to carry a tune": to be able to sing in tune.
  • I love to sing, but I'm afraid I can't carry a tune.

Variants and Related Words

• Carrier (n): A person or thing that carries something.
  • The airline is a major carrier of cargo.
• Carriage (n): The act of carrying, or a vehicle for carrying people.
  • The carriage of goods by sea is common.
• Carry-on (n): A small bag taken onto an airplane.
  • Please stow your carry-on in the overhead bin.

Synonyms

• Transport: to carry people or goods from one place to another.
• Bear: to carry or support, often implying a heavy load.
• Convey: to transport or carry something, or to communicate an idea.
• Hold: to have or keep in one's possession.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Carry on: to continue doing something.
  • Please carry on with your work.
• Carry out: to perform or complete a task.
  • It's important to carry out the instructions carefully.
• Carry over: to bring or extend something from one situation to another.
  • Unused vacation days will carry over to next year.

Related Idioms

• Carry the can (for someone/something): to accept blame or responsibility for something, especially something another person did.
  • He had to carry the can for the team's failure.
• Carry a torch for someone: to have romantic feelings for someone who does not feel the same way.
  • He's been carrying a torch for her since high school.
• Carry coals to Newcastle: to take something to a place where it is already plentiful (to do something unnecessary).
  • Selling ice in winter is like carrying coals to Newcastle.

Noun

1. the act of carrying something

Verb

1. be pregnant with
   • She is bearing his child
   • The are expecting another child in January
   • I am carrying his child
2. sing or play against other voices or parts
   • He cannot carry a tune
3. be successful in
   • She lost the game but carried the match
4. secure the passage or adoption (of bills and motions)
   • The motion carried easily
5. cover a certain distance or advance beyond
   • The drive carried to the green
6. have a certain range
   • This rifle carries for 3,000 feet
7. be able to feed
   • This land will carry ten cows to the acre
8. drink alcohol without showing ill effects
   • He can hold his liquor
   • he had drunk more than he could carry
9. propel or give impetus to
   • The sudden gust of air propelled the ball to the other side of the fence
10. bear (a crop)
    • this land does not carry olives
11. pursue a line of scent or be a bearer
    • the dog was taught to fetch and carry
12. transfer (a number, cipher, or remainder) to the next column or unit's place before or after, in addition or multiplication
    • put down 5 and carry 2
13. transfer (entries) from one account book to another
14. capture after a fight
    • The troops carried the town after a brief fight
15. have on the surface or on the skin
    • carry scars
16. take further or advance
    • carry a cause
17. compensate for a weaker partner or member by one's own performance
    • I resent having to carry her all the time
18. win approval or support for
    • Carry all before one
    • His speech did not sway the voters
19. be equipped with (a mast or sail)
    • This boat can only carry a small sail
20. have or possess something abstract
    • I carry her image in my mind's eye
    • I will carry the secret to my grave
    • I carry these thoughts in the back of my head
    • I carry a lot of life insurance
21. keep up with financial support
    • The Federal Government carried the province for many years
22. be conveyed over a certain distance
    • Her voice carries very well in this big opera house
23. have as an inherent or characteristic feature or have as a consequence
    • This new washer carries a two year guarantee
    • The loan carries a high interest rate
    • this undertaking carries many dangers
    • She carries her mother's genes
    • These bonds carry warrants
    • The restaurant carries an unusual name
24. pass on a communication
    • The news was carried to every village in the province
25. propel, "Carry the ball"
    • dribble the ball
26. include as the content; broadcast or publicize
    • We ran the ad three times
    • This paper carries a restaurant review
    • All major networks carried the press conference
27. have on hand
    • Do you carry kerosene heaters?
28. behave in a certain manner
    • She carried herself well
    • he bore himself with dignity
    • They conducted themselves well during these difficult times
29. include, as on a list
    • How many people are carried on the payroll?
30. win in an election
    • The senator carried his home state
31. be necessarily associated with or result in or involve
    • This crime carries a penalty of five years in prison
32. continue or extend
    • The civil war carried into the neighboring province
    • The disease extended into the remote mountain provinces
33. extend to a certain degree
    • carry too far
    • She carries her ideas to the extreme
34. contain or hold; have within
    • The jar carries wine
    • The canteen holds fresh water
    • This can contains water
35. support or hold in a certain manner
    • She holds her head high
    • He carried himself upright
36. bear or be able to bear the weight, pressure,or responsibility of
    • His efforts carried the entire project
    • How many credits is this student carrying?
    • We carry a very large mortgage
37. serve as a means for expressing something
    • The painting of Mary carries motherly love
    • His voice carried a lot of anger
38. transmit or serve as the medium for transmission
    • Sound carries well over water
    • The airwaves carry the sound
    • Many metals conduct heat
39. have with oneself; have on one's person
    • She always takes an umbrella
    • I always carry money
    • She packs a gun when she goes into the mountains
40. move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
    • You must carry your camping gear
    • carry the suitcases to the car
    • This train is carrying nuclear waste
    • These pipes carry waste water into the river