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
Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Never put a power bank in your carry-on because they can’t be checked (and there’s always a chance that your carry-on will be gate-checked).
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025
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
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Keep calm and carry on into the second half of the year, investors.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for carry-on
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Noun
Another travel simplification noted within the report predicts that people will travel lighter, often with just a carry-on, to make intermodal transport easier.
—Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Never put a power bank in your carry-on because they can’t be checked (and there’s always a chance that your carry-on will be gate-checked).
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025
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
Provide Predictable Signals Of Stability As Martin Seligman mentioned in his positive psychology research, the London air-raid sirens during WWII were so reliable as a signal that people were willing to go out and carry on even though bombs landed unpredictably.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Keep calm and carry on into the second half of the year, investors.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 July 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 8 Jul. 2025.
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