to take or support from one place to another; convey; transport: He carried her for a mile in his arms. This elevator cannot carry more than ten people.
2.
to wear, hold, or have around one: He carries his knife in his pocket. He carries a cane.
3.
to contain or be capable of containing; hold: The suitcase will carry enough clothes for a week.
4.
to serve as an agency or medium for the transmission of: The wind carried the sound. He carried the message to me.
5.
to be the means of conveying or transporting (something or someone): The wind carried the balloon out of sight.
6.
to be pregnant with: His wife is carrying twins.
7.
to put ahead to a subsequent time, page, etc., or to a higher authority; continue or transfer: to carry a case to a higher court; to carry a footnote to a new page.
8.
to bear the weight, burden, etc., of; sustain: These piers once carried an arch.
9.
to take (a leading or guiding part), as in singing; bear or sustain (a part or melody).
10.
to hold (the body, head, etc.) in a certain manner: She carries her head high.
11.
to behave or comport (oneself): She carries herself with decorum.
12.
to take the initiative in (a contest): The Giants carried the game to the Browns.
13.
to secure the adoption of (a motion or bill).
14.
to get a plurality or majority of electoral votes in (a district).
15.
to extend or continue in a given direction or to a certain point: to carry the war into enemy territory.
16.
to bring, impart, hear, transmit, or communicate news, a message, etc.
17.
to lead or influence by emotional or intellectual appeal: The actor carried his audience with him.
18.
to bear the major burden of (a group, performance, etc.) by superior talent, determination, etc.: The star carried the whole play.
19.
to serve as a conduit for: This pipe carries water to the house.
20.
to have as an attribute, property, consequence, etc.; presume or entail: Violation carries a penalty of five years in prison.
21.
to support or give validity to (a related claim, argument, etc.): One decision carries another.
22.
Commerce.
a.
to keep on hand or in stock.
b.
to keep on the account books.
23.
to bear as a crop: This land will not carry corn.
24.
to sustain or support: Our grain supply will carry the cattle through the winter. This money will carry us for about a week.
25.
to be enrolled for or to undertake as an amount of work: New students are advised not to carry more than 16 credits.
26.
Golf. to advance beyond or go by (an object or expanse) with one stroke.
27.
Ice Hockey. to cause (a puck) to move forward along the ice and in one's control by a series of light, short taps with the stick.
28.
Hunting. to retain and pursue (a scent).
29.
(in addition) to transfer (a number) from one denomination to the succeeding one.
30.
to have as a maximum working pressure: This boiler carries 190 pounds per square inch.
–verb (used without object)
31.
to act as a bearer or conductor.
32.
to have or exert propelling force.
33.
to be transmitted, propelled, or sustained: My voice carries farther than his.
34.
(of a horse) to bear the head in a particular manner while in action: The horse carries well.
–noun
35.
range, as of a gun.
36.
Golf. the distance a stroked ball travels.
37.
land that separates navigable waters and over which a canoe or boat must be carried; portage.
38.
a carrying.
—Verb phrases
39.
carry away,
a.
to influence greatly or unreasonably, esp. emotionally; excite; transport: The spectators were carried away by the appeal to their patriotism.
b.
Nautical. (of the wind or sea) to dislodge or send overboard.
c.
Nautical. (of a vessel) to lose (an object or objects) through breakage.
d.
Nautical. (of a rope or chain) to break under strain.
40.
carry back, Accounting. to apply (an unused credit or operating loss) to the net income of a prior period in order to reduce the tax for that period.
41.
carry forward,
a.
to make progress with.
b.
Bookkeeping. to transfer (an amount) to the next page, column, or book.
c.
Accounting. to apply (an unused credit or operating loss) to the net income of a succeeding period in order to reduce the tax for that period.
42.
carry off,
a.
to win (a prize, honor, etc.).
b.
to cause the death of: The Black Plague in the Middle Ages carried off more than one-fourth of the population of Europe.
43.
carry on,
a.
to manage; conduct.
b.
to continue without stopping: Rescue operations were carried on in spite of the storm.
c.
to continue to live, work, etc., despite a setback or tragedy; persevere.
d.
Informal. to behave in an agitated, foolish, or indiscreet manner.
e.
to misbehave or be disruptive; act up.
f.
Nautical. to proceed under excessive sail for the weather conditions.
44.
carry out,
a.
to put into operation; execute: He doesn't have the funds to carry out his design.
b.
to effect or accomplish; complete: They carried out their plan without incident.
45.
carry over,
a.
to hold until a later time; postpone.
b.
to be left; remain.
c.
Bookkeeping. to transfer (an amount) to the next page, column, or book.
d.
Accounting. to apply (an unused credit or operating loss) to the net income of a succeeding period in order to reduce the tax for that period.
e.
to extend from one activity or time to another: He does not carry over his business ethics into his personal relationships.
46.
carry through,
a.
to accomplish; complete.
b.
to support or help through a difficult situation.
c.
to continue or be prevalent in; persist: a theme that carried through all his writing.
—Idioms
47.
carry all before one, to be highly successful: In his academic and social life he carried all before him.
48.
carry a tune, to sing a melody accurately or on key.
49.
carry it off, Informal. to succeed in an action, endeavor, or scheme.
carry the day, to win the contest or be triumphant; prevail. The Republicans carried the day.
52.
carry too far, to exceed the limits of; go to excess with: She is carrying her crusading too far.
Origin: 1275–1325; ME carien < AF carier < LL carricāre, appar. var. of *carrūcāre, deriv. of L carrūca traveling carriage < Celt; see car1
Related forms:
car⋅ri⋅a⋅ble, car⋅ry⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Synonyms: 1.Carry,convey,transport,transmit imply taking or sending something from one place to another. Carry means to take by means of the hands, a vehicle, etc.: to carry a book; The boat carried a heavy load. Convey means to take by means of a nonhuman carrier: The wheat was conveyed to market by train. However, news, information, etc., can be conveyed by a human carrier: The secretary conveyed the message. Transport means to carry or convey goods, now usually by vehicle or vessel: to transport milk to customers. Transmit implies sending or transferring messages or hereditary tendencies: to transmit a telegram. 8.support. 14.gain, secure.
To hold or support while moving; bear: carried the baby in my arms; carrying a heavy backpack. See Synonyms at convey.
To take from one place to another; transport: a train carrying freight; a courier carrying messages.
Chiefly Southern U.S. To escort or accompany.
To communicate; pass on: The news was carried by word of mouth to every settlement.
To express or contain: harsh words that carried a threat of violence.
To support (a weight or responsibility).
To support the weight or responsibility of: a beam that carries the floor; a student who carries a heavy course load.
To hold and move (the body or a part of it) in a particular way: carried her head proudly.
To behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified manner.
To give impetus to; propel: The wind carried the ball over the fence.
To take further; advance: carry a cause.
To be successful in; win: lost the game but carried the match.
To gain victory, support, or acceptance for: The motion was carried in a close vote.
To win a majority of the votes in: Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
To gain the sympathy of; win over: The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
To have as an attribute or accompaniment: an appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect: The crime carried a five-year sentence.
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
To serve as a means for the conveyance of; transmit: pipes that carry waste water; a bridge that carries traffic between the two cities.
To communicate; pass on: The news was carried by word of mouth to every settlement.
To express or contain: harsh words that carried a threat of violence.
To support (a weight or responsibility).
To support the weight or responsibility of: a beam that carries the floor; a student who carries a heavy course load.
To hold and move (the body or a part of it) in a particular way: carried her head proudly.
To behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified manner.
To give impetus to; propel: The wind carried the ball over the fence.
To take further; advance: carry a cause.
To be successful in; win: lost the game but carried the match.
To gain victory, support, or acceptance for: The motion was carried in a close vote.
To win a majority of the votes in: Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
To gain the sympathy of; win over: The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
To have as an attribute or accompaniment: an appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect: The crime carried a five-year sentence.
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
To have (something) on the surface or skin; bear: carries scars from acne.
To hold or be capable of holding: The tank carries 16 gallons when full.
To support (a weight or responsibility).
To support the weight or responsibility of: a beam that carries the floor; a student who carries a heavy course load.
To hold and move (the body or a part of it) in a particular way: carried her head proudly.
To behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified manner.
To give impetus to; propel: The wind carried the ball over the fence.
To take further; advance: carry a cause.
To be successful in; win: lost the game but carried the match.
To gain victory, support, or acceptance for: The motion was carried in a close vote.
To win a majority of the votes in: Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
To gain the sympathy of; win over: The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
To have as an attribute or accompaniment: an appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect: The crime carried a five-year sentence.
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
To keep or have on one's person: stopped carrying credit cards.
To be pregnant with.
To hold and move (the body or a part of it) in a particular way: carried her head proudly.
To behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified manner.
To give impetus to; propel: The wind carried the ball over the fence.
To take further; advance: carry a cause.
To be successful in; win: lost the game but carried the match.
To gain victory, support, or acceptance for: The motion was carried in a close vote.
To win a majority of the votes in: Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
To gain the sympathy of; win over: The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
To have as an attribute or accompaniment: an appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect: The crime carried a five-year sentence.
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
To extend or continue in space, time, or degree: carried the line to the edge of the page; carry a joke too far.
To give impetus to; propel: The wind carried the ball over the fence.
To take further; advance: carry a cause.
To be successful in; win: lost the game but carried the match.
To gain victory, support, or acceptance for: The motion was carried in a close vote.
To win a majority of the votes in: Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
To gain the sympathy of; win over: The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
To have as an attribute or accompaniment: an appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect: The crime carried a five-year sentence.
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
To take or seize, especially by force; capture.
To be successful in; win: lost the game but carried the match.
To gain victory, support, or acceptance for: The motion was carried in a close vote.
To win a majority of the votes in: Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
To gain the sympathy of; win over: The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
To have as an attribute or accompaniment: an appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect: The crime carried a five-year sentence.
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
To include or keep on a list: carried a dozen workers on the payroll.
To have as an attribute or accompaniment: an appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect: The crime carried a five-year sentence.
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
To transfer from one place, as a column, page, or book, to another: carry a number in addition.
To keep in stock; offer for sale: a store that carries a full line of electronic equipment.
To keep in one's accounts as a debtor: carried the unemployed customer for 90 days.
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
To place before the public; print or broadcast: The morning papers carried the story. The press conference was carried by all networks.
To produce as a crop.
To provide forage for (livestock): land that carries sheep.
To sing (a melody, for example) on key: carry a tune.
Nautical To be equipped with (a mast or sail).
Sports
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
v.
intr.
To act as a bearer: teach a dog to fetch and carry.
To be transmitted or conveyed: a voice that carries well.
To admit of being transported: Unbalanced loads do not carry easily.
To hold the neck and head in a certain way. Used of a horse.
To be accepted or approved: The proposal carried by a wide margin.
n.
pl.car·ries
The act or process of carrying.
A portage, as between two navigable bodies of water.
The range of a gun or projectile.
The distance traveled by a hurled or struck ball.
Reach; projection: "a voice that had far more carry to it than at any time in the term thus far"(Jimmy Breslin).
To transfer (an account) to the next column, page, or book relating to the same account.
To retain (merchandise or other goods) for a subsequent, usually the next, season.
Football An act of running with the ball from scrimmage: a carry of two yards.
To cause the death of: was carried off by a fever.
To handle successfully: carried off the difficult situation with aplomb.
To conduct; maintain: carry on a thriving business.
To engage in: carry on a love affair.
To continue without halting; persevere: carry on in the face of disaster.
To behave in an excited, improper, or silly manner.
To put into practice or effect: carry out a new policy.
To follow or obey: carry out instructions.
To bring to a conclusion; accomplish: carried out the mission successfully.
Accounting
To transfer (an account) to the next column, page, or book relating to the same account.
To retain (merchandise or other goods) for a subsequent, usually the next, season.
To deduct (an unused tax credit or a loss, for example) for taxable income of a subsequent period.
To persist to another time or situation: The confidence gained in remedial classes carried over into the children's regular school work.
To accomplish; complete: carry a project through despite difficulties.
To survive; persist: prejudices that have carried through over the centuries.
To enable to endure; sustain: a faith that carried them through the ordeal.
Phrasal Verb(s): carry awayTo move or excite greatly: was carried away by desire. carry forwardAccounting To transfer (an entry) to the next column, page, or book, or to another account. carry off
To cause the death of: was carried off by a fever.
To handle successfully: carried off the difficult situation with aplomb.
carry on
To conduct; maintain: carry on a thriving business.
To engage in: carry on a love affair.
To continue without halting; persevere: carry on in the face of disaster.
To behave in an excited, improper, or silly manner.
carry out
To put into practice or effect: carry out a new policy.
To follow or obey: carry out instructions.
To bring to a conclusion; accomplish: carried out the mission successfully.
carry over
Accounting
To transfer (an account) to the next column, page, or book relating to the same account.
To retain (merchandise or other goods) for a subsequent, usually the next, season.
To deduct (an unused tax credit or a loss, for example) for taxable income of a subsequent period.
To persist to another time or situation: The confidence gained in remedial classes carried over into the children's regular school work.
carry through
To accomplish; complete: carry a project through despite difficulties.
To survive; persist: prejudices that have carried through over the centuries.
To enable to endure; sustain: a faith that carried them through the ordeal.
Idiom(s):
carry a/the torchTo feel a painful unreciprocated love: still carrying a torch for an old sweetheart.
Idiom(s):
carry the ball Informal To assume the leading role; do most of the work.
Idiom(s):
carry the dayTo be victorious; win.
[Middle English carien, from Old North French carier, from carre, cart; see car.]
in. to carry drugs on one's person. (Drugs.) : If you get busted while you're carrying, you are in big trouble with the man.
n. drugs carried on the person as an emergency supply in case of arrest. (Underworld.) : The cops found my carry, and I spent three days in the clink climbing the walls.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
c.1320, from Anglo-Fr. carier "to transport in a vehicle," from Gallo-Romance *carrizare, from L.L. carricare, from L. carrum (see car). Sense of "gain victory in an election" is from 1619. Carrier "person or animal that carries and disseminates infection without suffering obvious disease" is from 1899; genetic sense is 1933. As a short form of aircraft carrier it dates from 1917. Carrier pigeon is from 1641. Carry-all in the baggage sense is from 1884. Carry on "continue to advance" is from 1649; carryings-on "questionable doings" is from 1663. Carry-castle (1598) was an old descriptive term for an elephant.
[kar-ee-on, -awn] 
