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
Noun
the airline allows two carry-ons per person
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
Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2024
During this time, having key items in your carry-on can make your first few hours on board much more comfortable and enjoyable.
—David Nikel, Forbes, 7 Sep. 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
Roshni Wijayasinha, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
All the Tahari brands are carried on elietahari.com.
—Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for carry-on 
Noun
Ensure everything arrives undamaged by packing it in a reputable carry-on like the Samsonite Freeform.
—Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2024
During this time, having key items in your carry-on can make your first few hours on board much more comfortable and enjoyable.
—David Nikel, Forbes, 7 Sep. 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
Verb
Their responsibility carries on throughout the product's life cycle, from launch through growth and maturity phases, taking the customer's perspective into account at each step, ensuring messaging continuity and reviewing customer feedback for continuous improvement.
2.
—Roshni Wijayasinha, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
All the Tahari brands are carried on elietahari.com.
—Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for carry-on
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Carry-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carry-on. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.
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