carry weight
idiom
: to be important or meaningful especially in influencing others
He was considered a man of solid judgment, and his opinion upon all matters, private and public, carried weight.—
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Edward Bulwer-LyttonHer opinion carries a lot of weight with us, and we often seek out her advice before making any important decision.
Your promises would carry more weight [=be more meaningful] if you didn't break them so often.
Examples of carry weight in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
High Intrinsic Worth: Because production cost was high, each page carried weight and was often treated with reverence.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Being the don carries weight with staff but also guest stars, political figures and in his own corporate universe.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Feb. 2025
Some parents are concerned the new accreditation won’t carry weight with prestigious colleges – especially non-Catholic ones – and potentially jeopardize their children’s shot at getting into some schools.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2025
While the board plays no formal role in determining whether the Legislature will pay for more free meals, its recommendations can carry weight with lawmakers.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carry weight
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.
Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Being the don carries weight with staff but also guest stars, political figures and in his own corporate universe.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Feb. 2025
Some parents are concerned the new accreditation won’t carry weight with prestigious colleges – especially non-Catholic ones – and potentially jeopardize their children’s shot at getting into some schools.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2025
While the board plays no formal role in determining whether the Legislature will pay for more free meals, its recommendations can carry weight with lawmakers.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carry weight
Cite this Entry
“Carry weight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carry%20weight. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share