carry

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verb

car·ry ˈker-ē

ˈka-rē

carried; carrying; carries

Synonyms of carry next

transitive verb

: to move while supporting : transport

her legs refused to carry her further—

Ellen Glasgow

: to convey by direct communication

carry tales about a friend

chiefly dialectal : conduct, escort

: to influence by mental or emotional appeal : sway

She intended the play to carry audiences toward a sense of peace and understanding.

: to get possession or control of : capture

carried off the prize

: to transfer from one place (such as a column) to another

carry a number in adding

: to contain and direct the course of

The drain carries sewage.

Cables carry electricity to homes.

: to wear or have on one's person

Police officers carry guns.

: to bear upon or within one

is carrying an unborn child

: to harbor (a pathogen) within the body

carry a virus

: to possess a specified gene

specifically : to possess one copy of a specified recessive gene and be capable of transmitting it to offspring

parents carrying genes for cystic fibrosis

: to have or bear especially as a mark, attribute, or property

carry a scar

: imply, involve

The crime carried a heavy penalty.

: to hold or comport (oneself, one's person, etc.) in a specified manner

always carries herself with dignity and grace

: to sustain the weight or burden of

Pillars carry an arch.

is carrying a full course load

: to bear as a crop

: to sing with reasonable correctness of pitch

carry a tune

: to keep in stock for sale

The store carries a good selection of wines.

: to provide sustenance for

land carrying 10 head of cattle

: to have or maintain on a list or record

carry a person on a payroll

carried six guards on the team

: to be chiefly or solely responsible for the success, effectiveness, or continuation of

a player capable of carrying a team

Her performance carried the play.

: to prolong or maintain in space, time, or degree

carry a principle too far

carry the wall above the eaves

carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning

: to gain victory for

especially : to secure the adoption or passage of

The bill was carried in the Senate by a vote of 75–25.

: to win a majority or plurality of votes in (something, such as a legislative body or a state)

The bill carried the Senate by a vote of 75–25.

: to present for public use or consumption

Newspapers carry weather reports.

Channel nine will carry the game.

: to bear the charges of holding or having (stocks, merchandise, etc.) from one time to another

: to keep on one's books as a debtor

A merchant carries a customer.

: to hold to and follow after

The dog could not carry the scent.

: to hoist and maintain (a sail) in use

: to pass over (something, such as a hazard) at a single stroke in golf

carry a bunker

: to propel and control (a puck or ball) along a playing surface

intransitive verb

: to act as a bearer

: to reach or penetrate to a distance

Voices carry well.

Fly balls don't carry well in cold air.

: to convey itself to a reader or audience

: to undergo or admit of carriage in a specified way

a load that carries easily

of a hunting dog : to keep and follow the scent

: to win adoption

The motion carried by a vote of 71–25.

informal : to have a gun on one's person : to carry a gun

I did make one adjustment in the aftermath of Ned's attack. I hauled my H&K [handgun] and holster out of the trunk at the foot of my bed. If Ned was declaring war, I'd be carrying.—

Sue Grafton

carry

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noun

plural carries

: carrying power

especially : the range of a gun or projectile or of a struck or thrown ball

: portage

: the act or method of carrying

fireman's carry

: the act of rushing with the ball in football

averaged four yards per carry

: the position assumed by a color-bearer with the flag or guidon held in position for marching

: a quantity that is transferred in addition from one number place to the adjacent one of higher place value

Phrases

carry a torch or carry the torch

: crusade

: to be in love especially without reciprocation : cherish a longing or devotion

still carrying a torch for a former lover

carry the ball

: to perform or assume the chief role : bear the major portion of work or responsibility

No one else is available to make the arrangements, so it's up to you to carry the ball.

carry the day

: win, prevail

Truth and justice will carry the day.

Example Sentences

Verb I'll carry your luggage to your room. He was carrying his baby daughter in his arms. For two months, I carried the book around with me everywhere I went. The waitress carried away our empty dinner plates. The wind carried the smoke away from the campsite. These planes can carry up to 300 passengers. a ship carrying thousands of gallons of oil Oil is carried to the factory through these pipes. We installed gutters that will carry water away from the house. blood vessels that carry blood to the heart Noun He averaged four yards per carry this season. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Los Cabos is full of more luxurious, all-inclusive resorts that carry higher price tags. —

Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2023 Shortly before the shooting, surveillance footage shows several people helping Sheih carry cleaning supplies and bedding from his car to the unit. —

Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2023 In addition to two counts of murder, the jury also convicted him of two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, which carry five more years in prison. —

Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2023 The Strix can fit in a standard shipping container and carry various weapons, including the AGM-114 Hellfire. —

Sascha Brodsky, Popular Mechanics, 3 Mar. 2023 Girardi has been charged with eight counts of wire fraud, which each carry a 20-year maximum prison sentence, along with four counts of criminal contempt, assistant United States Attorney Corey Rubenstein said. —

Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2023 While considered highly effective, the drugs can carry a price tag of upwards of $1,000 per month for patients using them for weight loss, since many insurance companies don’t yet cover them for that purpose. —

Julia Belluz, STAT, 2 Mar. 2023 At the ceremonial start Saturday, her sled will carry a family member of Lance Mackey, this year’s honorary musher and a four-time champion who died last September. —

Marc Lester, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Mar. 2023 After the flowers fade, snip off the stalks, and the vibrant leaves carry this plant through the summer and into fall. —

Marty Ross, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2023

Noun

Swift struggled through ankle and shoulder injuries last season, but averaged 5.5 yards per carry, tied for second-most among backs with at least 99 rushing attempts. —

Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2023 On one hand, Richardson threw 17 touchdown passes -- including three of 40-plus air yards -- and rushed for an FBS QB-high 6.4 yards per carry in 2022. —

Evan Frank, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Mar. 2023 Hill has 547 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his career while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. —

Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 15 Mar. 2023 But Elliott never again averaged 5 yards per carry and only once topped 4.5. —

Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 15 Mar. 2023 He's played sparingly with Broncos and Minnesota Vikings since entering the league in 2018, but he's been efficient when utilized with an average of 5.2 yards per carry. —

Josh Criswell, Chron, 13 Mar. 2023 Hunter has rushed for 1,264 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first two years—with another three touchdowns receiving—and has averaged 6.5 yards per carry at Auburn. —

Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 9 Mar. 2023 Her series of black-and-white snaps skewed decidedly moody, the vibe all down to an easy-to-emulate cocktail of onyx liner, tousled lengths, and the correct demeanor for the carry-off. —

Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2023 This versatility has earned the Steam Deck a spot in my everyday carry. —

Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.