car·ry-on
ˈker-ē-ˌȯn 
ˈka-rē-,
-ˌän
1
British
: carrying-on
2
: a piece of luggage suitable for being carried aboard an airplane by a passenger
: carried or suitable for being carried aboard
carry-on baggage
carried on; carrying on; carries on
: to continue doing, pursuing, or operating
carry on research
carried on the business
1
: to continue especially in spite of hindrance or discouragement
chose to carry on despite the weather
2
: to behave or speak in a foolish, excited, or improper manner
shocked at how he carries on
Synonyms
Examples of carry-on in a Sentence
Verb
a toddler crying and carrying on in the store
she bravely carried on despite the loss of her husband
Recent Examples on the Web
Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
This year-round shoe staple is equally sensible and stylish, and isn't too bulky or heavy to pack in your carry-on.
—Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024
Stash your Final Four program in your carry-on bag.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
American Airlines is relaxing its pet policy and allowing those who travel with their animal companions to bring a full-size carry-on too, along with the pet carrier.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Also, packing light to fit everything into a carry-on and a personal item is important, too.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Anything bigger, like a carry-on bag with wheels, needed to be checked for a $35 fee.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2024
Diddy’s employees smuggled drugs on commercial airlines through carry-on luggage.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Well, wake up: the dream is a reality with this carry-on backpack from Matein.
—David Moses, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2023
On Friday morning at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia, a feline was discovered inside a passenger’s carry-on bag during a security screening.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 3 Mar. 2023
Like most LCCs, Norse Atlantic charges extra for many add-ons to your reservation, including carry-on and checked baggage, seat assignments and onboard food and refreshments on the cheapest tickets.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2023
Due to a risk of overheating, the FAA says spare lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries, including external battery packs and cellphone charging cases, must be placed in carry-on bags only.
—Hannah Sampson, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Mar. 2023
As a rule of thumb, an empty carry-on that's six pounds or less is considered lightweight.
—Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 2 Mar. 2023
Louisa Ballou Half Moon One-Piece Swimsuit Now 75% Off Megan Thee Stallion, Bella Hadid, and Dua Lipa are just a sample of the celebrities who pack Louisa Ballou's botanical swimwear in their vacation carry-on bags.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 1 Mar. 2023
Economy light follows the model of barebones economy, which allows passengers to bring one small carry-on only.
—Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Feb. 2023
Depending on the seating, there can be fees for carry-on and checked bags.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
This year's event, which carries on a tradition that began in 1878, features school themes.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
During the pandemic, the festival carried on, with all of its shows presented either online, by phone and by mail.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
With countless awards and number-one singles to his name, Iglesias established himself as the King of Latin Pop in the U.S. and carried on the legacy of his father Julio Iglesias.
—Chris Malone Mendez, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Today Eduardo Chadwick carries on the family tradition and will someday pass the torch to his four daughters, María José, María Eugenia, Magdalena, and Alejandra.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
There’s a long tradition of presenting England’s smalltown shopkeepers, pub-tenders, constables and vicars as kindly, communal folks who keep calm and carry on in the name of queen and country.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024
What may be construed as nationalist fervor is actually a need to survive and carry on their ancestral legacy.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
The last surviving member, Brad Fischetti, has performed LFO songs in memory of his late bandmates and carries on their legacy.
20.
—Lisa Raphael, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
Read on to discover our picks for the best carry-on luggage that PEOPLE tested.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
This year-round shoe staple is equally sensible and stylish, and isn't too bulky or heavy to pack in your carry-on.
—Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024
Stash your Final Four program in your carry-on bag.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
American Airlines is relaxing its pet policy and allowing those who travel with their animal companions to bring a full-size carry-on too, along with the pet carrier.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Also, packing light to fit everything into a carry-on and a personal item is important, too.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Anything bigger, like a carry-on bag with wheels, needed to be checked for a $35 fee.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2024
Diddy’s employees smuggled drugs on commercial airlines through carry-on luggage.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Well, wake up: the dream is a reality with this carry-on backpack from Matein.
—David Moses, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The compact case is smaller than a credit card, so it can easily be slid into your carry-on, personal item, or even your pocket without adding bulk.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2023
On Friday morning at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia, a feline was discovered inside a passenger’s carry-on bag during a security screening.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 3 Mar. 2023
Like most LCCs, Norse Atlantic charges extra for many add-ons to your reservation, including carry-on and checked baggage, seat assignments and onboard food and refreshments on the cheapest tickets.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2023
Due to a risk of overheating, the FAA says spare lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries, including external battery packs and cellphone charging cases, must be placed in carry-on bags only.
—Hannah Sampson, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Mar. 2023
As a rule of thumb, an empty carry-on that's six pounds or less is considered lightweight.
—Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 2 Mar. 2023
Louisa Ballou Half Moon One-Piece Swimsuit Now 75% Off Megan Thee Stallion, Bella Hadid, and Dua Lipa are just a sample of the celebrities who pack Louisa Ballou's botanical swimwear in their vacation carry-on bags.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 1 Mar. 2023
Economy light follows the model of barebones economy, which allows passengers to bring one small carry-on only.
—Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Feb. 2023
Depending on the seating, there can be fees for carry-on and checked bags.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023
Verb
Still, even by these disputatious standards, the arguments that have been carrying on around Amherst Regional Middle School, or ARMS, have been vociferous.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
This year's event, which carries on a tradition that began in 1878, features school themes.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
During the pandemic, the festival carried on, with all of its shows presented either online, by phone and by mail.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
With countless awards and number-one singles to his name, Iglesias established himself as the King of Latin Pop in the U.S. and carried on the legacy of his father Julio Iglesias.
—Chris Malone Mendez, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Today Eduardo Chadwick carries on the family tradition and will someday pass the torch to his four daughters, María José, María Eugenia, Magdalena, and Alejandra.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
There’s a long tradition of presenting England’s smalltown shopkeepers, pub-tenders, constables and vicars as kindly, communal folks who keep calm and carry on in the name of queen and country.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024
What may be construed as nationalist fervor is actually a need to survive and carry on their ancestral legacy.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
The last surviving member, Brad Fischetti, has performed LFO songs in memory of his late bandmates and carries on their legacy.
20.
—Lisa Raphael, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carry-on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to carry-on
Dictionary Entries Near carry-on
Cite this Entry
“Carry-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carry-on. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share