carry

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verb

car·ry ˈker-ē

ˈka-rē

carried; carrying; carries

Synonyms of carry next

transitive verb

: to move while supporting : transport

her legs refused to carry her further—

Ellen Glasgow

: to convey by direct communication

carry tales about a friend

chiefly dialectal : conduct, escort

: to influence by mental or emotional appeal : sway

She intended the play to carry audiences toward a sense of peace and understanding.

: to get possession or control of : capture

carried off the prize

: to transfer from one place (such as a column) to another

carry a number in adding

: to contain and direct the course of

The drain carries sewage.

Cables carry electricity to homes.

: to wear or have on one's person

Police officers carry guns.

: to bear upon or within one

is carrying an unborn child

: to harbor (a pathogen) within the body

carry a virus

: to possess a specified gene

specifically : to possess one copy of a specified recessive gene and be capable of transmitting it to offspring

parents carrying genes for cystic fibrosis

: to have or bear especially as a mark, attribute, or property

carry a scar

: imply, involve

The crime carried a heavy penalty.

: to hold or comport (oneself, one's person, etc.) in a specified manner

always carries herself with dignity and grace

: to sustain the weight or burden of

Pillars carry an arch.

is carrying a full course load

: to bear as a crop

: to sing with reasonable correctness of pitch

carry a tune

: to keep in stock for sale

The store carries a good selection of wines.

: to provide sustenance for

land carrying 10 head of cattle

: to have or maintain on a list or record

carry a person on a payroll

carried six guards on the team

: to be chiefly or solely responsible for the success, effectiveness, or continuation of

a player capable of carrying a team

Her performance carried the play.

: to prolong or maintain in space, time, or degree

carry a principle too far

carry the wall above the eaves

carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning

: to gain victory for

especially : to secure the adoption or passage of

The bill was carried in the Senate by a vote of 75–25.

: to win a majority or plurality of votes in (something, such as a legislative body or a state)

The bill carried the Senate by a vote of 75–25.

: to present for public use or consumption

Newspapers carry weather reports.

Channel nine will carry the game.

: to bear the charges of holding or having (stocks, merchandise, etc.) from one time to another

: to keep on one's books as a debtor

A merchant carries a customer.

: to hold to and follow after

The dog could not carry the scent.

: to hoist and maintain (a sail) in use

: to pass over (something, such as a hazard) at a single stroke in golf

carry a bunker

: to propel and control (a puck or ball) along a playing surface

intransitive verb

: to act as a bearer

: to reach or penetrate to a distance

Voices carry well.

Fly balls don't carry well in cold air.

: to convey itself to a reader or audience

: to undergo or admit of carriage in a specified way

a load that carries easily

of a hunting dog : to keep and follow the scent

: to win adoption

The motion carried by a vote of 71–25.

informal : to have a gun on one's person : to carry a gun

I did make one adjustment in the aftermath of Ned's attack. I hauled my H&K [handgun] and holster out of the trunk at the foot of my bed. If Ned was declaring war, I'd be carrying.—

Sue Grafton

carry

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noun

plural carries

: carrying power

especially : the range of a gun or projectile or of a struck or thrown ball

: portage

: the act or method of carrying

fireman's carry

: the act of rushing with the ball in football

averaged four yards per carry

: the position assumed by a color-bearer with the flag or guidon held in position for marching

: a quantity that is transferred in addition from one number place to the adjacent one of higher place value

Phrases

carry a torch or carry the torch

: crusade

: to be in love especially without reciprocation : cherish a longing or devotion

still carrying a torch for a former lover

carry the ball

: to perform or assume the chief role : bear the major portion of work or responsibility

No one else is available to make the arrangements, so it's up to you to carry the ball.

carry the day

: win, prevail

Truth and justice will carry the day.

Example Sentences

Verb I'll carry your luggage to your room. He was carrying his baby daughter in his arms. For two months, I carried the book around with me everywhere I went. The waitress carried away our empty dinner plates. The wind carried the smoke away from the campsite. These planes can carry up to 300 passengers. a ship carrying thousands of gallons of oil Oil is carried to the factory through these pipes. We installed gutters that will carry water away from the house. blood vessels that carry blood to the heart Noun He averaged four yards per carry this season. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Transportation Security Administration discovered more than 6,500 firearms in carry-on bags in 2022, a new record, the agency said Tuesday. —

Jennifer Calfas, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2023 His career yards per carry average of 6.7 ranks first among active power five players. —

Dallas News, 16 Jan. 2023 Its cargo area still accommodated a respectable number of our carry-on suitcases (eight behind the rear seat, 19 with the rear seats folded), even as others in this segment fared much better. —

Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 13 Jan. 2023 In November, a cat was found in a carry-on bag at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. —

Erin Pflaumer, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2023 Summer outfits are easier to stuff into your carry-on luggage, just saying. —

Jake Smith, Glamour, 5 Jan. 2023 Officers found three cattle prods stuffed inside a passenger’s carry-on guitar case in Sept. 14 at Dulles International Airport. —

Salvador Hernandezstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2023 The offense ran for at least 225 yards nine times, including 418 yards against Penn State and 225 yards on 7.2 yards per carry against the Buckeyes. —

Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2022 Georgia has held opponents to 2.93 yards per carry this season — fifth-lowest in the nation — and allowed only five touchdown runs. —

Nathan Baird, cleveland, 13 Dec. 2022

Noun

In 2022, Miller tallied 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. —

Dallas News, 16 Jan. 2023 Wilcox shined in the football hotbed Georgia, running for 2,145 yards and 29 touchdowns on 250 carries (nearly 9 yards per carry) as a senior. —

Jake Adams, The Courier-Journal, 14 Jan. 2023 The sixth overall pick of the 2019 draft completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions and rushed for 5.9 yards per carry (708 yards on 120 attempts) and seven TDs. —

Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023 Lawrence is a headliner but the Jaguars have run well based on their matchups (gaining over 140 yards on the ground in wins against the Cowboys and Jets) and Travis Etienne finished in the top 10 among running backs for yards per game and per carry. —

David Hill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2023 Both averaged a tad under 5 yards per carry, with Mostert at 4.9 and Wilson 4.7. —

David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2023 The Outlander Sport's 60/40 split-folding back seats easily fold to create a flat cargo floor, but the Mitsubishi can't hold as many carry-on suitcases as can many of its rivals. —

Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 11 Jan. 2023 Passing through airport security in the U.K. is about to get easier and more streamlined, as U.K. officials announced that the rule mandating liquids in carry-on bags be 100ml (3.4 ounces) or less will no longer be enforced, starting in June 2024. —

Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Dec. 2022 Following a search, a second box cutter was found in the unidentified passenger's carry-on, according to TSA. —

ABC News, 12 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.