Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » carry

carry

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

To carry is to transport or support the weight of something or someone, or to assume responsibility for someone or something, or to walk and act in a certain manner.

(verb)

When you pick up a child and walk across the room with her, this is an example of a situation where you carry the child.
When you accept responsibility for how well a project turns out, this is an example of a situation where you carry the project.
When you walk and talk with your head held high, this is an example of a situation where you carry yourself with dignity.

See carry in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb carried, carrying

to hold or support while moving: to carry a package
to take from one place to another; transport, as in a vehicle: to carry the mail
to hold, and direct the motion of; be a channel for; convey: a pipe carrying water
to cause to go; lead or impel: his ambition carried him to the top
to be a medium for the transmission of: air carries sounds
to transfer or extend: to carry a wall along a precipice
to transfer (a figure, entry, account, etc.) from one column, page, time, etc. to the next in order
1. to bear the weight of: the balusters carry a railing
2. to support or sustain: when others were injured, Jones carried the team
to be pregnant with
1. to bear as a mark
2. to have as a quality, characteristic, consequence, etc.; involve; imply: to carry a guarantee
to have on one's person or keep with one: to carry a watch, to carry memories
to hold or poise (oneself, one's weight, etc.) in a specified way
to conduct (oneself) in a specified way
☆ to include as part of its contents or program schedule: said of a newspaper, radio or TV station, etc.
to have or keep on a list or register: to be carried on the tax list
1. ☆ to support financially
2. to bear the cost of: to carry insurance on a car
to enable (an opponent, a subordinate, etc.) to continue through one's own efforts, generosity, etc.
to capture (a fortress, etc.)
to win over, lead, or influence (a group)
1. to gain support or victory for (a cause, point, etc.)
2. to win (an election, argument, etc.)
3. to gain a majority of the votes in (a district, state, etc.)
to drink (liquor) without showing the effects
South to accompany; escort
☆ Commerce
1. to keep in stock; deal in: to carry leather goods
2. to keep on one's account books, etc.
Agric.
1. to bear as a crop; produce
2. to support (livestock)
Golf to go past or beyond (an object or expanse) or cover (a distance) with one stroke
Hunting to keep and follow (a scent)
Music to sing the notes of (a melody or part) accurately

Origin: ME carien < Anglo-Fr carier < NormFr carre, car

intransitive verb

to act as a bearer, conductor, etc.
1. to have or cover a range: the shot carried to the next hill
2. to move easily through the air: said of a propelled object
to have the intended effect upon those watching or listening
to hold the head, etc. in a specified way: said of a horse
to win approval: the motion carried

noun pl. carries

the range of, or distance covered by, a gun, golf ball, projectile, etc.
☆ a portage between two navigable bodies of water
the act or manner of carrying

See carry in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb car·ried, car·ry·ing, car·ries

verb, transitive

To hold or support while moving; bear: carried the baby in my arms; carrying a heavy backpack. See Synonyms at convey.
a. To take from one place to another; transport: a train carrying freight; a courier carrying messages.
b. Chiefly Southern U.S. To escort or accompany.
To serve as a means for the conveyance of; transmit: pipes that carry waste water; a bridge that carries traffic between the two cities.
a. To communicate; pass on: The news was carried by word of mouth to every settlement.
b. To express or contain: harsh words that carried a threat of violence.
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.
a. To support (a weight or responsibility).
b. To support the weight or responsibility of: a beam that carries the floor; a student who carries a heavy course load.
To keep or have on one's person: stopped carrying credit cards.
To be pregnant with.
a. To hold and move (the body or a part of it) in a particular way: carried her head proudly.
b. To behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified manner.
To extend or continue in space, time, or degree: carried the line to the edge of the page; carry a joke too far.
a. To give impetus to; propel: The wind carried the ball over the fence.
b. To take further; advance: carry a cause.
To take or seize, especially by force; capture.
a. To be successful in; win: lost the game but carried the match.
b. To gain victory, support, or acceptance for: The motion was carried in a close vote.
c. To win a majority of the votes in: Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
d. To gain the sympathy of; win over: The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
To include or keep on a list: carried a dozen workers on the payroll.
a. To have as an attribute or accompaniment: an appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
b. To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect: The crime carried a five-year sentence.
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.
a. To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
b. To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
21. To place before the public; print or broadcast: The morning papers carried the story. The press conference was carried by all networks.
22. To produce as a crop.
23. To provide forage for (livestock): land that carries sheep.
24. To sing (a melody, for example) on key: carry a tune.
25. Nautical To be equipped with (a mast or sail).
26. Sports
a. To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
b. To control and advance (a ball or puck).
c. Basketball To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.

verb, intransitive

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.

noun pl. car·ries

The act or process of carrying.
A portage, as between two navigable bodies of water.
a. The range of a gun or projectile.
b. The distance traveled by a hurled or struck ball.
c. Reach; projection: “a voice that had far more carry to it than at any time in the term thus far” (Jimmy Breslin).
Football An act of running with the ball from scrimmage: a carry of two yards.

Phrasal Verbs: carry away To move or excite greatly: was carried away by desire. carry forward Accounting 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

a. To transfer (an account) to the next column, page, or book relating to the same account.

b. 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.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English carien

Origin: , from Old North French carier

Origin: , from carre, cart; see car

Learn more about carry

carry synonyms

carry investment & finance

carry phrase meanings

carry in a sentence

carry quotes

carry images