1
as in acting out
to behave badly
a toddler crying and carrying on in the store
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in persisting
to continue despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement
she bravely carried on despite the loss of her husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of carrying on
The notebook includes not just copies of letters in the Watkins papers but Virginia’s meticulous record of her fact-checking and her correspondence with Polly about the book’s success, spin-offs, sequels, and other projects carrying on to Polly’s death in 1962.
—
Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Since the Palisades Fire, Bass's opponents have criticized her for carrying on with a diplomatic trip to Ghana despite the National Weather Service issuing fire weather advisories.
—Tom Wait, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Then the gang wraps up the game, so Holly and her friends can take over, adorably carrying on the Dungeons & Dragons tradition.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
Still, Republicans and Democrats are not letting the optics of fundraising or networking during a shutdown stop them from carrying on like usual.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
Lee’s granddaughter, Carolyn Yim — the creator of Ply-Knits — has been carrying on the family legacy by producing some of Samuel Gui Yang’s most iconic knitwear pieces.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
The City of Portland’s official account also weighed in, posting that while national media painted a grim picture, daily life was carrying on as usual.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Big thanks to Betty Lin-Fisher and Baily Schulz for carrying on in our absence.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
All that carrying on caused the rusty metal trap to cut further into his leg, which caused a terrible infection.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Since the Palisades Fire, Bass's opponents have criticized her for carrying on with a diplomatic trip to Ghana despite the National Weather Service issuing fire weather advisories.
—Tom Wait, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Then the gang wraps up the game, so Holly and her friends can take over, adorably carrying on the Dungeons & Dragons tradition.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
Still, Republicans and Democrats are not letting the optics of fundraising or networking during a shutdown stop them from carrying on like usual.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
Lee’s granddaughter, Carolyn Yim — the creator of Ply-Knits — has been carrying on the family legacy by producing some of Samuel Gui Yang’s most iconic knitwear pieces.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
The City of Portland’s official account also weighed in, posting that while national media painted a grim picture, daily life was carrying on as usual.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Big thanks to Betty Lin-Fisher and Baily Schulz for carrying on in our absence.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
All that carrying on caused the rusty metal trap to cut further into his leg, which caused a terrible infection.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carrying on
Verb
-
The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
But when her school’s principal suggests that her acting out might be covering up a learning disability, Claire’s mom is hesitant to have her evaluated.—
Sara Rowe Mount,
Parents,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But despite the high-fashion association and the persisting hype around Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton appointment in the wake of Virgil Abloh’s death, there was another piece of footwear that was getting even more attention.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
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Warm weather boosts sales Unseasonably warm weather persisting into October and a lack of severe weather events nationwide have had a larger impact on Tractor Supply's business than tariffs and inflation, according to the company's top executives.—
Hadley Hitson,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For instance, his administration gave the green light to hundreds of cattle ranches that had been operating illegally in tribal lands awaiting protections.—
Adriana Brasileiro,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The state lost two rural hospitals in the Chippewa Valley in 2024, and many more are operating at a loss, according to the latest numbers from the Wisconsin Hospital Association.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Illinois State Police cited him on suspicion of disobeying a police officer – a petty offense punishable by a fine – Cook County court records show, and is scheduled to appear in court November 25.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
-
In Missouri, disobeying traffic lights is considered a moving violation.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Her mother accompanied her to appointments, managing logistics and providing emotional support.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Tina Olson, a managing attorney with the Juvenile Lifer Unit in the State Appellate Defender Office, says the decision doesn't minimize the crimes committed – or the victims impacted – but instead ensures defendants are given fair punishments.—
Elaine Rojas-Castillo,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Its general sensibility seems more Superstore than The Office, down to the interstitial montages of customers acting up in the perpetually overcrowded waiting room.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Sturm said his back started acting up after the team’s first practice.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Although Shirley’s video implied the day care was empty, several of the violations noted in that report involved overcrowding, with too many children in some rooms and too few adults supervising them.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
1 Jan. 2026
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That’s one of the big goals of the San Diego Public Library’s winter reading challenge, explains Emily Derry, the library’s supervising librarian for youth and family services.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Marcano Tábata is widely identified by human rights groups as part of the command structure overseeing detention centers where political prisoners have been held, including facilities accused of systematic abuse and torture.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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Calvello will serve as Mamdani’s chief government spokesperson, overseeing City Hall’s press office, with a portfolio focused on national issues, according to sources.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Carrying on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carrying%20on. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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