car·ry-on
ˈker-ē-ˌȯn 
ˈka-rē-,
-ˌän
1
British
: carrying-on
2
: a piece of luggage suitable for being carried aboard an airplane by a passenger
: carried or suitable for being carried aboard
carry-on baggage
carried on; carrying on; carries on
: to continue doing, pursuing, or operating
carry on research
carried on the business
1
: to continue especially in spite of hindrance or discouragement
chose to carry on despite the weather
2
: to behave or speak in a foolish, excited, or improper manner
shocked at how he carries on
Synonyms
Examples of carry-on in a Sentence
Noun
the airline allows two carry-ons per person
Verb
a toddler crying and carrying on in the store
she bravely carried on despite the loss of her husband
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
Needless to say, reliable carry-on luggage makes a world of difference.
—Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2024
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2023
On Friday morning at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia, a feline was discovered inside a passenger’s carry-on bag during a security screening.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 3 Mar. 2023
Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Sep. 2024
His beloved wife died at home in November 2023 at the age of 96, and Jason said that his grandfather has been carrying on since then.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for carry-on 
Noun
The compact case that these headphones come in fits perfectly in any carry-on bag, and the noise cancellation is great for long flights.
—Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
Needless to say, reliable carry-on luggage makes a world of difference.
—Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2024
Adjective
The compact case is smaller than a credit card, so it can easily be slid into your carry-on, personal item, or even your pocket without adding bulk.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2023
On Friday morning at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia, a feline was discovered inside a passenger’s carry-on bag during a security screening.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 3 Mar. 2023
Verb
With Harris appearing intent to carry on Biden’s foreign policy, her candidacy is closely connected with that of Biden’s.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Sep. 2024
His beloved wife died at home in November 2023 at the age of 96, and Jason said that his grandfather has been carrying on since then.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for carry-on
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carry-on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to carry-on
Dictionary Entries Near carry-on
Cite this Entry
“Carry-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carry-on. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share