carry

KA-ree/ˈkæɹ.i/UKKAIR-ee/ˈkæɹ.ɪ/

31 meanings of carry

1
verbtransitive
To take someone or something from one place to another, in your hands or in a vehicle, pipe, or wire.
Like a river moving leaves from one place to another.
Pipes carry water across the city.
The truck carried furniture to the new house.
UsageTo give someone a ride, say take or drive them.
Similartransport, convey, take, move, bring
Note
2
have with youverbtransitive
To have something with you, such as in a pocket or bag.
I always carry a phone in my pocket.
She carries her keys on a string around her neck.
UsageSay carry something with you or on you.
Similarbring, pack, have, take
3
verbtransitive
To have something as part of it, like a sign, a cost, or a risk.
Some products carry a clear safety warning on the box.
The old painting carries a hidden message in one corner.
UsageA thing carries a risk, a fee or a penalty.
Similarbear, have, include, feature
Note
4
have for saleverbtransitive
To keep a product in a store so people can buy it.
Does this shop carry fresh bread?
The store carries every brand of soda.
Similarstock, sell, offer
5
verbtransitive
To make something reach farther or continue longer.
Like drawing a line longer until it touches the next page.
The builders carried the wall all the way to the road.
We can carry the path around the lake.
Similarextend, continue, take, run
6
transmitverbintransitive
To move through the air and reach a faraway place, the way a sound or smell does.
Like the smell of fresh baking that you notice from another room.
Her voice carries all the way to the back of the room.
Sounds carry far across the quiet lake at night.
UsageSay a sound carries far or carries well.
Similartravel, resound, project
Note
7
be pregnantverbtransitive
To have a baby growing inside the body before birth.
She is carrying twins this time.
Many animals carry their young for several months.
Similarbear, gestate
8
win (election)verbtransitive
To win something, like a vote or a contest.
She hoped to carry the election easily.
The mayor easily carried every part of the city.
UsageCarry the day means to win.
Similarwin, take, capture
Oppositelose
Note
9
support through hardshipverbtransitive
To support and keep something going, even when it is hard.
Strong values can carry a community through hard times.
Her friends carried her through the hardest year of her life.
UsageSay carry someone through a hard time.
Similarsustain, support, uphold
Note
10
go armedverbintransitive
To have a weapon on you, so you are armed.
In some states, you need a license to carry.
He always carries when he travels alone at night.
UsagePeople say someone is carrying, meaning they have a gun.
Note

Less common meanings

11
hold yourselfverbreflexivetransitive
To hold and move your body in a certain way that shows how you feel.
Like standing tall to show that you feel sure of yourself.
She carries herself with great confidence.
He learned to carry himself like a leader.
UsageSay how: carry yourself with pride.
Similarconduct, bear, hold, comport
Note
12
verbtransitive
To move a number or amount on to the next column or page, as in adding numbers.
Like water spilling over from a full cup into the next cup.
Add the units first, then carry the extra ten to the next column.
He carried the one and finished the sum correctly.
UsageSay carry the one.
Similartransfer
Note
13
nouncountable
The extra digit you move to the next column when adding numbers.
Like when a box gets too full and you move one item to the next box.
In this sum, the carry goes into the tens column.
Forgetting a single carry can throw off the whole answer.
Note
14
do most workverbtransitive
To do most of the work that makes a team win.
Like one strong rower moving a whole boat forward.
She carried her team to the win almost by herself.
A great player can carry weaker teammates through a match.
UsageSay someone carried the team.
Note
15
run with ballverbtransitive
In sports, to move the ball while keeping control of it.
Like running with a toy held tight so no one can take it.
The running back carried the ball down the field.
Skilled players can carry the ball past several defenders.
UsageSay carry the ball.
Similarrun
Note
16
pass (motion)verbtransitive
To officially approve a plan or motion by a vote in a meeting.
Like a class voting yes so a plan becomes the rule.
The council carried the motion to build a new park.
If enough members agree, they carry the proposal.
UsageOften was carried: the motion was carried.
Similarpass, approve, adopt
Oppositereject, defeat
17
lead someoneverbtransitive
To lead or guide someone toward a place or result.
Like a guide leading hikers up a mountain.
The general carried his troops to victory.
A good story can carry the reader from a small farm to the big city.
UsageGet carried away means to let feelings take you too far.
Similarlead, guide, drive, propel
Note
18
nouncountable
A way of holding something to move it, or in football, one run with the ball.
Like the special way you hold a baby so it feels safe.
Use a two-hand carry for heavy boxes.
He gained five yards on his first carry.
Similarhold, grip
Note
19
verbtransitive
To have the force to push or move something forward.
Like wind pushing a sailboat forward.
The strong wind carried the sailboat across the bay.
These engines carry the rocket into orbit.
Similardrive, propel, push, power
20
golf distancenouncountable or uncountable
In golf, how far the ball flies through the air before it lands.
Like how far a thrown ball flies before it bounces.
His drive had a carry of over 250 yards.
The water hazard needs a long carry to clear it.
Note
21
verbtransitive
To pay the costs of keeping goods or stocks from one time to another.
Like paying to keep food in storage until you can sell it.
The store carried unsold winter coats through the spring.
Banks carry these loans on their books for years.
Similarhold, keep
Note
22
noun
The money you gain or lose from holding something you own over time.
23
noun
The share of profits that an investment manager earns from a fund.
24
verb
In cricket, for a hit ball to reach a fielder through the air without bouncing first.
25
noun
A strip of land where boats and goods are moved by hand between two waterways.
26
verbslang
To insult someone or put them down.
27
verb
To take control of a ship by pulling up next to it and climbing on.
28
verb
Of a horse, to hold its head in a certain way.
29
verb
Of a running hare, to get mud or frost stuck to its feet.
30
verbobsolete
To win a place by attacking it.
31
noundialectalUK
The sky, or clouds moving across it.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from an old French word meaning to move something, based on Latin 'carrus', a four-wheeled wagon.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Carry comes from an old French word, through Anglo-Norman carier. en.wiktionary.org
The French source word meant to move or carry something. en.wiktionary.org
The French word ultimately derives from Latin carrus. en.wiktionary.org
Carrus denoted a four-wheeled wagon. escholarship.org