carry-on 1 of 2

noun

ˈker-ē-ˌȯn How to pronounce carry-on (audio)
Definition of carry-onnext
as in suitcase
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles the airline allows two carry-ons per person

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carry on

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to act out
to behave badly a toddler crying and carrying on in the store

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to persist
to continue despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement she bravely carried on despite the loss of her husband

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to operate
to look after and make decisions about carries on a business and still manages to run the household

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of carry-on
Noun
The aesthetic is a play on laidback, beachy style with colorful prints and floral motifs, plus a level of versatility that makes packing a carry-on for your next vacation as effortless as letting your hair air dry after a swim. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 8 July 2026 Every travel day requires a spacious carry-on bag that’s comfortable to schlep through the airport and spacious enough to hold your in-flight essentials. — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Verb
Back in England, the country which supposedly gave football to the world, everyone is clearly keeping calm and carrying on during this World Cup run. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 But since England progressed out of the group and through the last 32, Thompson has carried on the adventure alone. — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for carry-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carry-on
  1. suitcase
  2. act out
  3. persist
  4. operate
  5. misconduct
  6. manage
  7. disobey
  8. supervise
Noun
  • An airy dress that can moonlight as a cover-up is an absolute must, especially if suitcase space is limited.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • At some point that Will could not remember, Butch stopped living out of his suitcase and got himself a chest of drawers and apparently—though Will didn’t notice them for some time—houseplants.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of suitcase
Verb
  • Put together this 393-piece Lego Marvel set to act out the subway scene from Spider-Man 2.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
  • Whether it’s induced by the unknown or past experiences, dogs may shake, tremble, bark, act out or hide when in distress.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Definition of act out
Verb
  • Despite the years of Sturm und Drang about pandemic origins, and the wholesale adoption of the lab-leak theory by the party that controls both Congress and the White House, a shaky status quo still persists in biosafety.
    — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
  • For instance, some forecasters warn that if drought persists through multiple seasons, the combination of dry soils and shifting precipitation patterns could increase stress on agriculture and water supplies.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of persist
Verb
  • But if Texas doesn’t allow sports betting, how can these markets operate in the state?
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026
  • Marine engines operate under sustained high RPM and are exposed to moisture, which requires additional protection against wear and corrosion.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026
Definition of operate
Verb
  • In addition, referees were instructed to apply the rules regarding fouls and misconducts more strictly – a move meant to protect players and their inventiveness.
    — Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Definition of misconduct
Verb
  • Tracy, who managed several of the current Red Sox players in Triple A earlier this season, isn’t surprised by their success.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • According to a source, Oman has drafted a proposal to manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key sticking point in the conflict.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • Santana-Mateo was booked on charges of breach of peace, engaging police in a pursuit, disobeying the direction of officer, reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to drive right, failure to obey a traffic control signal and driving the wrong way on a one way.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
  • In 2024, the agency claimed that X security staff sometimes had to pointedly disobey Musk in order to remain in compliance.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
Definition of disobey
Verb
  • Adults should closely supervise children around water and avoid distractions such as reading, using a phone, or other activities that take attention away from swimmers, the agency states on its website.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • Illinois resident Mwite Emily Kasanga, who went by Emily, died at 34 after allegedly choking on food when her care team failed to supervise her eating despite known risks, according to a July 6 complaint obtained by PEOPLE.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of supervise

Browse Nearby Words

carry off
carry-on
carry on
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Cite this Entry

“Carry-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carry-on. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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