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
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
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2025
Ideal for tossing in your carry-on or keeping on your nightstand, Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads make pro-level exfoliation as simple as swipe, wait, repeat.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2025
Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Despite my best efforts to neatly square away all of my things inside my carry-on bag or checked luggage, my suitcase eventually ends up looking like a scene out of Twisters.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Eve Chen, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Despite these incidents, the tradition persisted, and each new Clay Henry has carried on the mantle.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carry-on
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Noun
Airplane cabin temperature is notoriously fickle, quickly oscillating from hot to cold, so don’t forget to keep a cozy cardigan tucked into your carry-on suitcase.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2025
Ideal for tossing in your carry-on or keeping on your nightstand, Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads make pro-level exfoliation as simple as swipe, wait, repeat.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Lithium batteries in overhead bins or carry-on bags can be hard to monitor, potentially delaying fire detection.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Despite my best efforts to neatly square away all of my things inside my carry-on bag or checked luggage, my suitcase eventually ends up looking like a scene out of Twisters.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
In general, those with lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries should also be carried on board, where flight crews can recognize and respond to lithium battery fires, according to the FAA.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Despite these incidents, the tradition persisted, and each new Clay Henry has carried on the mantle.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carry-on
Cite this Entry
“Carry-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carry-on. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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