carry

1 of 2

verb

car·​ry ˈker-ē 

ˈka-rē

carried; carrying; carries

transitive verb

1

: to move while supporting : transport

her legs refused to carry her further

—Ellen Glasgow

2

: to convey by direct communication

carry tales about a friend

3

chiefly dialectal : conduct, escort

4

: to influence by mental or emotional appeal : sway

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

5

: to get possession or control of : capture

carried off the prize

6

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

carry a number in adding

7

: to contain and direct the course of

The drain carries sewage.

Cables carry electricity to homes.

8

a

: to wear or have on one's person

Police officers carry guns.

b

: to bear upon or within one

is carrying an unborn child

c

: to harbor (a pathogen) within the body

carry a virus

d

: 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

9

a

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

carry a scar

b

: imply, involve

The crime carried a heavy penalty.

10

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

always carries herself with dignity and grace

11

: to sustain the weight or burden of

Pillars carry an arch.

is carrying a full course load

12

: to bear as a crop

13

: to sing with reasonable correctness of pitch

carry a tune

14

a

: to keep in stock for sale

The store carries a good selection of wines.

b

: to provide sustenance for

land carrying 10 head of cattle

c

: to have or maintain on a list or record

carry a person on a payroll

carried six guards on the team

15

: 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.

16

: 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

17

a

: 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.

b

: 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.

18

: to present for public use or consumption

Newspapers carry weather reports.

Channel nine will carry the game.

19

a

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

b

: to keep on one's books as a debtor

A merchant carries a customer.

20

: to hold to and follow after

The dog could not carry the scent.

21

: to hoist and maintain (a sail) in use

22

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

carry a bunker

23

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

intransitive verb

1

: to act as a bearer

2

a

: to reach or penetrate to a distance

Voices carry well.

Fly balls don't carry well in cold air.

b

: to convey itself to a reader or audience

3

: to undergo or admit of carriage in a specified way

a load that carries easily

4

of a hunting dog : to keep and follow the scent

5

: to win adoption

The motion carried by a vote of 71–25.

6

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

2 of 2

noun

plural carries

1

: carrying power

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

2

a

: portage

b

: the act or method of carrying

fireman's carry

c

: the act of rushing with the ball in football

averaged four yards per carry

3

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

4

: 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

1

: crusade

2

: 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.

Synonyms

Verb

• bear
• cart
• convey
• ferry
• haul
• lug
• pack
• tote
• transport

Examples of carry in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

He was charged in Pennsylvania with felony counts of forgery and carrying a firearm without a license, as well as a misdemeanor count of using fraudulent identification. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024

Pennsylvania authorities charged him with carrying firearms without a license, possessing instruments of a crime, falsely identifying himself to law enforcement, tampering with records or identification, and forgery. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024

Noun

Lock had 59 yards on five carries Sunday after gaining 57 yards on four carries in Dallas. —Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024

Designed for ultimate durability, the 100% polyester bag is also waterproof, and has a carry handle for easy portability. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English carien "to transport by a cart, horse or other means, convey, bear in one's arms, on one's back, etc.," borrowed from Anglo-French carier, charier "to transport, bear in one's arms, carry off, drive" (continental Old French charrier, charroier, Picard & Norman carier), from carre, charre "cart, wagon, small cartload" + -ier, -oier, factitive verb suffix, going back to Latin -idiāre, originally representing variant pronunciation (or spelling variant) of -izāre -ize — more at car

Note: The variant suffix -ier may have arisen by analogy with verbs such as prier "to ask," from Latin precārī, which had variants with -i- and -ei- (> -oi-) depending on where stress fell on inflected forms, leading to generalization of one or the other form throughout the paradigm. Modern French has both charrier and charroyer. Compare ply entry 3.

Noun

derivative of carry entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing carry

• carry all/everything before (one)
• carry away
• carry-cot
• carry more weight
• carry off
• carry on
• carry on a conversation
• carry on the tradition
• carry on with
• carry out
• carry over
• carry over into/to
• carry (someone) back to
• carry/take coals to Newcastle
• carry the can
• carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders
• carry through
• carry weight
• cash-and-carry
• concealed carry
• fetch and carry
• open carry

Kids Definition

carry

1 of 2 verb

car·​ry ˈkar-ē 

carried; carrying

1

: to support and take from one place to another : transport

carry a package

2

: to influence by appeal to the mind or emotions

the speaker carried the audience

3

: win entry 1 sense 3b, capture

carried off the prize

4

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

carry a number in addition

5

: to contain and direct the flow of

a pipe carries water

6

a

: to wear or have on one's person

carries a camera

b

: to bear upon or within one

carries a scar

she is carrying an unborn child

7

: imply sense 1, involve

the crime carries a penalty

8

: to hold the body or a part of it

carry your head high

9

: to sing in correct pitch

carry a tune

10

: to stock for sale

carries three brands of tires

11

: to keep on a list or record

carrying six drivers on the payroll

12

: support entry 1 sense 4a

pillars carry an arch

13

a

: to succeed in

carry an election

b

: to win a majority of votes in (as a state)

14

: to present for the public

newspapers carry weather reports

15

: to reach or travel a distance

a voice that carries well

carry

2 of 2 noun

plural carries

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

Medical Definition

carry

transitive verb

car·​ry ˈkar-ē 

carried; carrying

1

: to harbor (a pathogen) within the body

many are unaware they carry the virus and could be infecting others

—Donald MacGillis

2

: to possess a specified gene

women who carry genes that increase the risk of breast cancer

—Liz Szabo

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

screening tests to see whether parents carry genes for cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease or other defects

—Lisa Greene