carry
KA-ree
Carry (verb) means to hold something and move it from one place to another. Example: “Can you carry this bag for me while I find my keys?”
verb
1
To hold something and move it from one place to another.
"Can you carry this bag for me while I find my keys?"
"He carried the boxes up two flights of stairs."
"She carries her laptop to work every day."
2
To have something on your person, such as a weapon, illness, or item.
"Mosquitoes in some regions carry diseases that can make people seriously ill."
"The officer is trained and licensed to carry a firearm."
"She always carries a spare phone charger in her bag."
3
To be responsible for a large share of a team's success.
"The goalkeeper carried the weaker side with a string of brilliant saves."
"In group projects, one student often has to carry everyone else."
"Their star striker carried the team through the whole tournament."
4
To be pregnant with (a child).
"My sister is carrying her first child and is due in spring."
"Some animals carry their young for many months before giving birth."
"She is carrying twins."
5
In arithmetic, to transfer a surplus digit to the next column when adding.
"Remember to carry the two into the tens column when you add."
"The children learned to carry digits during their addition lesson."
"When you add 8 and 5, you write down 3 and carry the 1."
noun
1
The way something is held or transported; also, the distance a struck ball travels before landing.
"The golfer got great carry on his drive."
"A strong tailwind added extra carry to her shot over the water."
"The ball's carry was shorter than he had expected on the cold morning."
How to use carry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo transport, hold, support, or be responsible for something.
Common pairings
carry weight
carry a tune
carry on
carry out an order
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Word forms
- Plural
- carries
- Third person singular
- carries
- Past tense
- carried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Can you _____ this bag for me while I find my keys?
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman carier, from Latin carrus ("wagon") — the same root as "car" and "cargo."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for carry
See all rhymes for carry →Frequently asked questions
What does “carry” mean?
The word “carry” means to hold something and move it from one place to another. In plain terms, to transport, hold, support, or be responsible for something.
How do you pronounce “carry”?
“Carry” is pronounced KA-ree (/ˈkæɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “carry” in a sentence?
Here is “carry” used in a sentence: “The officer is trained and licensed to carry a firearm.”
What is another word for “carry”?
Words with a similar meaning to “carry” include bear, move, transport, tote, cart and convey.
What is the opposite of “carry”?
The opposite of “carry” — its antonyms — is borrow.
What part of speech is “carry”?
Depending on how it is used, “carry” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “carry” come from?
The word “carry” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman carier, from Latin carrus ("wagon") — the same root as "car" and "cargo.".
Is “carry” a common word?
“Carry” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between carry and hold?
To hold something is to keep it in your grasp while staying put. To carry adds movement — you hold the object and move it from one place to another. You might hold a bag while waiting, then carry it to the car. Carrying is essentially holding something while on the move.
What is the difference between carry, bring, and take?
Carry describes the physical act of bearing something as you move. Bring and take add direction: bring means to convey something toward the speaker, take means to convey it away. You carry a box, describing how you move it, and bring it here or take it there, describing which way it goes.
What are other meanings of carry?
Beyond physically moving something, carry has many uses: a shop carries a product when it stocks it, a voice carries when it travels far, an argument carries weight when it has influence, and a person can carry a tune. Each sense extends the core idea of bearing something from one point to another.
What is an example of carry?
You might say, 'Could you carry these bags upstairs?' or 'She carried her little brother across the stream.' In each case someone holds an object or person and moves it to a new place — which is the essential meaning of the word.
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