carrying on

verb

Definition of carrying onnext
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

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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

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 carrying on In the tangled greenery of a Ugandan national park, mountain gorillas sit among the leaves, calmly carrying on as tourists trek into their forest home. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 The acquisition also puts Lewis in the somewhat unusual position of carrying on the businesses of two veteran New York printmakers who helped shape his career. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 17 Sep. 2026 The two sides are carrying on with development of multiple projects, with one of them said to be nearing a series order. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026 The band is dedicated to carrying on the spirit of a live Rush concert. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Heitz Cellar’s current winemaker Brittany Sherwood is carrying on the tradition of stunning selections by using only organic and biodynamic Napa Valley grapes. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 What began as a single title has since grown into more than 400 books and counting, with Mike Berenstain now carrying on the family legacy. — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Established in 2022 with the support of Prine’s family and Oh Boy Records, the award celebrates the legacy of the late songwriter as seen through a living talent carrying on his work. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carrying on
  1. acting out
  2. persisting
  3. operating
  4. disobeying
  5. managing
  6. acting up
  7. supervising
  8. overseeing
Verb
  • Inside, under flickering lights, a group of reluctant strangers is coaxed into acting out, in a converted gymnasium, a wild tale promising redemption from agonizing tragedy.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Traditional Rocky Horror movie showings include a costumed cast acting out the events on screen, with bags of props handed out for audience participation during certain scenes.
    — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of acting out
Verb
  • One place where the one-hander is persisting is at the recreational level, where players search for consistency and where elite levels of power and precision are secondary to fun, comfort and longevity.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • And to me, that denial is one factor that contributes to the crimes persisting.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of persisting
Verb
  • In a separate development, a crucial oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia that was shuttered by the kingdom earlier this month after coming under attack is once again operating, according to a Saudi government official.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Designate an independent committee of the board of directors to oversee and receive reports from the teams operating the controls and the internal and external auditors and evaluators, as well as to ensure any issues identified are remediated.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of operating
Verb
  • Cops had issued summonses to the driver twice before, once in 2024 for failing to yield to a pedestrian and in 2018 for disobeying a traffic device, officials said.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The violations are disobeying orders and conduct unbecoming an officer.
    — Charlie D'Agata, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of disobeying
Verb
  • Keeping her husband happy yet oblivious—managing his baby fever with staged fake miscarriages—only goes so far when Martha begins suffering an inexplicable illness that culminates in an impossible pregnancy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The office of the CFO can spend less time managing work and more time interpreting information and making decisions that improve business performance.
    — Ari Widlansky, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of managing
Verb
  • But sleep was hard to come by, with her daughter’s asthma acting up and the anxiety of the hearing the following day.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Baye continued acting up until 2023.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Definition of acting up
Verb
  • Under the agreement, Carpentersville is responsible for supervising detainees, medical care, medical transportation and other expenses but won’t be charged for using the East Dundee jail.
    — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • She was considered his muse, supervising campaigns by Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and Helmut Newton and in 1994 becoming head designer of the company’s secondary line, Versus.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of supervising
Verb
  • Among the next steps TNT Fireworks would like to see from legislators are improvements to information-sharing and communication between fireworks regulators and public agencies overseeing imports.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Banijay has been overseeing a consultancy process for staff in recent weeks, which is nearing completion.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of overseeing

Browse Nearby Words

carrying off
carrying on
carrying out
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Cite this Entry

“Carrying on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carrying%20on. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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