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
Over the weekend, business leaders offered a mix of responses after federal agents shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, revealing yet again how one of America’s most powerful cohorts is — publicly, at least — carrying on with business as usual.
—
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
No redemptive speechifying or cathartic waterworks here, just life carrying on with a slightly heavier tread.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Now the second generation is carrying on the same quality.
—Michael Guise, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
In 2016, the Don Bolles/Arizona Republic News21 Fellowship was established for senior or graduate students studying at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University to work full time on an investigative project, carrying on Bolles' legacy.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Hawaii prevents concealed carry permit holders from carrying on private property without the owner’s express consent, either verbally or via hanging a sign.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
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
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
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
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
No redemptive speechifying or cathartic waterworks here, just life carrying on with a slightly heavier tread.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Now the second generation is carrying on the same quality.
—Michael Guise, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
In 2016, the Don Bolles/Arizona Republic News21 Fellowship was established for senior or graduate students studying at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University to work full time on an investigative project, carrying on Bolles' legacy.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Hawaii prevents concealed carry permit holders from carrying on private property without the owner’s express consent, either verbally or via hanging a sign.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carrying on
Verb
-
The actors joked about how trying to put on medical gloves quickly enough while remembering and acting out dialogue can make scenes go sideways in a heartbeat.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Dec. 2025
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This world is rarely gentle to people who are hurt, vulnerable, acting out.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The arctic blast that has gripped much of the country is forecasted to continue to blanket Michigan, with wind chills as low as 15-20 degrees below zero, persisting throughout the rest of the week.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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With the issue persisting, Austin ISD has requested that Waymo halt operations during school pickup or dropoff hours.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The team forecasted total expenses — all expenses recorded between sales and operating income on an income statement — to be about $12 billion to $19 billion above analyst expectations.—
,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
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Belmond, meanwhile, builds on its own legacy, operating the legendary Venice Simplon–Orient-Express.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The fact that on this occasion senior officers chose a very light touch, preserving still-new representative institutions while not directly disobeying a direct presidential order, is extraordinary – and deserves far more comment and commendation than has been received.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
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The mayor and governor of Minnesota need to be investigated for causing chaos in the streets, disobeying federal laws and causing riots at the expense of a deceased person.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her mother accompanied her to appointments, managing logistics and providing emotional support.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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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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Likewise, when the young men started acting up, Josephine Holt took a keen interest in her newspaper.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
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If your trackpad is acting up, keyboard shortcuts can keep you productive without fighting the cursor.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trump is set to chair the Board of Peace, which will be tasked with supervising postwar restoration efforts in Gaza as part of the second phase of the president’s 20-point peace plan.—
Sophie Brams,
The Hill,
21 Jan. 2026
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Parents supervising their teen’s account will now be able to set a time limit on Shorts, ranging from two hours to zero minutes.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mayor Eric Genrich laid blame for Pretti’s death on the federal officials overseeing the controversial deployment of federal agents to the Twin Cities.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
25 Jan. 2026
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In May, as part of a larger executive reorganization, Matt Severson was named executive vice president of academy collection and preservation, overseeing all archival, preservation, registration, conservation and cataloging work of the library, archive and Academy Museum.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Carrying on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carrying%20on. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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