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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carrying on
Verb
-
Mia is really acting out her character and has butt pads so lumpy that Michelle Visage got up off her couch to come over to the Hamptons to yell at her.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Reports from those calls reveal a spectrum of youth behaviors, from hallway bullying to acting out because of problems at home.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Forecast models show dry conditions persisting through at least Friday, with low chances for any meaningful precipitation.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The report’s map showed the browns and yellows of persisting and developing drought across the entire Upper Colorado River Basin except in the Green River headwaters of Wyoming.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kenya’s flag carrier is operating at near full capacity as the war in the Middle East drives up demand, the company’s CEO said.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Qatar Airways is operating a limited number of flights through March 28—a list that now includes New York, Miami, London, and dozens of other destinations—as Qatari airspace remains largely closed.—
Graham Rapier,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
South Windsor police have charged Rodriguez with evading responsibility, disobeying the signal of an officer, reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit and improper use of a marker, license or registration.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Michael Schade, who works in the department’s traffic division, said most e-bike accidents were caused by riders disobeying basic traffic rules, like running red lights and not stopping at stop signs.—
Alissa Gary,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cooking, handling special requests and managing busy environments still depend on people.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Wait times listed on the MyTSA mobile app may not be accurate because TSA isn’t actively managing its sites during the shutdown.—
John Raby,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bruce, as the stunt shark built to menace them is nicknamed, is acting up and delaying the acting itself.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the guests, who have literally just arrived five minutes ago, are already acting up.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Athletic coaches, people responding to emergencies, people supervising inmates, custodians, and people helping children who need bathroom assistance get a pass.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The transit operator has been accused in the past of not properly supervising contract security personnel who occasionally used excessive force.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
He was recently confirmed as the assistant attorney general overseeing the new division at the department focused on prosecuting fraud.—
Michelle L. Price,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The judge, Honorable Michael McNally of Michigan’s 33rd District Court, posed the question while overseeing a case on Wednesday, March 25.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Carrying on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carrying%20on. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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