carry on

carry on

verb

Definition of CARRY ON

1

to behave badly <a toddler crying and carrying on in the store>

Synonyms act out, act up, carry on

Related Words misconduct; disobey, rebel; clown (around), cut up, fool around, horse around, kid (around); show off; roughhouse

Near Antonyms obey; acquit, act, bear, comport, conduct, demean, deport, quit; comply, conform; check, collect, compose, constrain, contain, control, curb, handle, inhibit, move, quiet, repress, restrain

2

to continue despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <she bravely carried on despite the loss of her husband>

Synonyms carry on, persist

Related Words dig in, hang on, keep up; follow through (with); knuckle down

Near Antonyms give up, knock off, quit; bow, give in, submit, succumb, surrender, yield; falter, hang back, hesitate, shilly-shally, vacillate, waver, wobble (also wabble)

3

to look after and make decisions about <carries on a business and still manages to run the household>

Synonyms administer, administrate, carry on, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend

Related Words care (for), mind, watch; lead, pilot, steer; guard, protect, safeguard; micromanage, stage-manage; codirect, comanage