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 message was met with a torrent of enthusiasm for the Indigo Girls carrying on.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026
The ground beneath your feet may be carrying on a kind of conversation.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Marcos Acosta might seem like an unlikely character to be carrying on the two-century-long tradition of Western American art in Colorado.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
For now, retailers who sell kratom products are simply carrying on until they’re investigated by county health inspectors.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
The remainder of the trailer flicks at these while carrying on with her suggestion that Erika is up to no good.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
What’s it like seeing the new class of artists from your home state carrying on the legacy?
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
He was caught using a crude slur for Jews, and carrying on an extramarital affair that produced an out-of-wedlock child.
—Mark Whitaker, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Each year, the world's top tennis players descend on the US for the Sunshine Double—BNP in California followed by the Miami Open—those who were cut quickly from the former often stop in for some rallies in Arizona before carrying on to Florida.
—David Shaftel, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026
The ground beneath your feet may be carrying on a kind of conversation.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Marcos Acosta might seem like an unlikely character to be carrying on the two-century-long tradition of Western American art in Colorado.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
For now, retailers who sell kratom products are simply carrying on until they’re investigated by county health inspectors.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
The remainder of the trailer flicks at these while carrying on with her suggestion that Erika is up to no good.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
What’s it like seeing the new class of artists from your home state carrying on the legacy?
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
He was caught using a crude slur for Jews, and carrying on an extramarital affair that produced an out-of-wedlock child.
—Mark Whitaker, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Each year, the world's top tennis players descend on the US for the Sunshine Double—BNP in California followed by the Miami Open—those who were cut quickly from the former often stop in for some rallies in Arizona before carrying on to Florida.
—David Shaftel, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carrying on
Verb
-
This reality means that the environmental review angle can be an effective veto over development by NIMBY groups and others acting out of ideological rather than environmentally-conscious concerns.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
If previous records massaged her hedonism into silky, professional-grade pop, the sound on WOR$T GIRL is all sinew and scrap metal, a leaner and meaner vehicle for acting out.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is because eventually the sellers exhaust themselves while the buyers are persisting at the same price multiple times.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Pollen exposure is exacerbated by persisting air pollution—despite long-term declines in many major pollutants.—
Matt Fuchs,
Scientific American,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ann-Marie Guglieri, Yale's executive deputy director/chief operating officer of athletics, and Mary Berdo, deputy director of athletics, the second- and third-ranked positions in the department under Chun, purchased a house together in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2018, the deed shows.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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High conversion rate With roughly 15,000 facilities operating nationwide, wastewater treatment represents a massive and constant drain on the American power grid.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Your brother had similar pressure put on him by the national team after disobeying instructions and speaking out.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Nikolas Hart, 25, with six counts, including felony animal cruelty and misdemeanors related to allegations of domestic violence, witness tampering and disobeying a court order.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Stafford is 38 and managing degenerative back issues.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Micky Arison is listed as managing general partner.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The capsule’s toilet is already acting up.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The black flies are not the only troublesome creature acting up during the unseasonably warm weather.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chavez, a 78-year-old retiree who worked as a foreman supervising construction at the site, also disappeared in May 2025, according to Los Alamos police.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
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Goldwyn served as writer and supervising producer on Emily in Paris, and writer on SMILF and Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, among others.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The county is overseeing design and construction for the cabins project, which is expected to be completed by the summer of 2027.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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There and throughout the West Bank, voting determines the makeup of local councils tasked with overseeing water, roads and electricity.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Carrying on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carrying%20on. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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