Synonyms of carrying on

carrying on

verb

present participle of carry on

1

as in acting out

to behave badly

a toddler crying and carrying on in the store

Synonyms & Similar Words

• acting out
• disobeying
• acting up
• running riot
• raising Cain
• misconducting
• rebelling
• misbehaving
• cutting up
• kidding (around)
• horsing around
• clowning (around)
• showing off
• fooling around
• roughhousing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obeying
• conducting
• acting
• bearing
• containing
• quitting
• moving
• complying
• handling
• conforming
• controlling
• checking
• collecting
• acquitting
• composing
• deporting
• inhibiting
• curbing
• restraining
• demeaning
• comporting
• constraining
• quieting
• repressing

2

as in persisting

to continue despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement

she bravely carried on despite the loss of her husband

Synonyms & Similar Words

• persisting
• hanging in there
• gutting it out
• persevering
• hanging on
• keeping up
• following through (with)
• digging in
• knuckling down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• giving up
• knocking off
• giving in
• submitting
• quitting
• yielding
• bowing
• surrendering
• hanging back
• succumbing
• wavering
• hesitating
• faltering
• vacillating
• wobbling
• shilly-shallying

3

as in operating

to look after and make decisions about

carries on a business and still manages to run the household

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• managing
• supervising
• overseeing
• handling
• controlling
• regulating
• conducting
• presiding (over)
• running
• watching over
• governing
• keeping
• administering
• directing
• guiding
• tending
• caring (for)
• protecting
• overlooking
• superintending
• administrating
• stewarding
• watching
• leading
• steering
• safeguarding
• guarding
• piloting
• minding
• codirecting
• comanaging
• micromanaging
• stage-managing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of carrying on

Carnegie Deli continues today under the leadership of the brand’s CEO and third-generation owner Sarri Harper, who’s carrying on her grandfather Milton Parker’s legacy. — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 22 Aug. 2026

Not just within your four walls or your own locations, but how much inventory is someone else carrying on your behalf? — Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Twain and Marie-Anne became close friends, and Twain was shocked to learn that Marie-Anne and Lange had been allegedly carrying on an extramarital affair—losing both her husband and her best friend in one fell swoop. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 July 2026

The city wasn't in any immediate danger, and business was carrying on like usual, Letz said. — ABC News, 25 July 2026

There are multiple people, all around the lounge, carrying on full-volume business conversations as if the rest of us are simply part of their office. — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

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

Haaland’s winning goal came after another bout of yanking and pulling; the striker tried to free himself by slapping the defender’s arm away, eventually just carrying on regardless. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026

The brief clip showed off a new cast of characters, beginning with fuzzy television static before exploding into a montage propelled by intense music and kinetic bursts of action, carrying on the spirit of the first season through energetic animation and heavily stylised art. — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 23 June 2026