Phrase guide

carry on

noun · verb · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˈkæɹi ˈɑn/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

alternative spelling of carry-on

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To continue or proceed as before.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • I’ll be gone for a few days, but I hope you will carry on in my absence.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To continue, maintain or pursue (an activity or enterprise).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • to carry on commerce in a market
  • Carry on the good work.
  • It is difficult to carry on a conversation with so many distractions.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To persist, persevere.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: keep on, hang in, hang on, keep on keeping on
  • keep calm and carry on

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: keep on, hang in, hang on, keep on keeping on

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To talk continuously or prolongedly (about something), often in an excessively excited way.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • Near-synonym: go on
  • He’s always carrying on about his stupid aquarium.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go on

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To act or behave; especially, to misbehave so as to attract attention; to make a fuss; to behave ostentatiously.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • I really wish you wouldn't carry on like that in public!
  • I could hear some protestors hollering, but I wasn't close enough to make out what was happening. What were they carrying on about?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: see misbehave § Synonyms

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To have an illicit sexual or flirtatious relationship.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • I thought he was my friend, but all the time he was carrying on with my wife!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • You may only carry on items that are smaller than a certain size.
  • You may carry them on if they fit within the limits.
  • Will you be checking any bags, or just carrying on?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

continue talking he continued,

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I know it's hard,
  • but there is no choice
  • carry on--pretend we are not in the room

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: continue, go on, proceed

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: talk, speak

Narrower terms: segue, ramble on, ramble, jog

10

verb

Meaning 10

direct the course of; manage or control

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • You cannot conduct business like this

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: conduct, deal

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: manage, deal, care, handle

Narrower terms: racketeer

11

verb

Meaning 11

misbehave badly; act in a silly or improper way

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The children acted up when they were not bored

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: act up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: misbehave, misconduct, misdemean

12

verb

Meaning 12

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • preserve the peace in the family
  • continue the family tradition
  • Carry on the old traditions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: continue, uphold, bear on, preserve

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: keep, maintain, hold

Narrower terms: resume, restart, re-start, persevere, persist, hang in, hang on, hold on, perpetuate, prolong, sustain, keep up, mummify

History

Etymology

Equivalent to carry onto.

Equivalent to carry onward.

Across languages

Translations

54 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: fortsætte — to continue or proceed as before
  • Finnish: jatkaa — to continue or proceed as before
  • French: continuer — to continue or proceed as before
  • French: poursuivre — to continue or proceed as before
  • German: weitermachen — to continue or proceed as before
  • Italian: andare avanti — to continue or proceed as before
  • Norwegian Bokmål: fortsette — to continue or proceed as before
  • Occitan: continuar — to continue or proceed as before
  • Occitan: perseguir — to continue or proceed as before
  • Persian: ادامه دادن (edâme dâdan) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Russian: продолжа́ть (prodolžátʹ) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Russian: продолжа́ть (prodolžátʹ) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Russian: продолжа́ться (prodolžátʹsja) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Russian: продолжа́ться (prodolžátʹsja) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Scottish Gaelic: lean air — to continue or proceed as before
  • Spanish: continuar — to continue or proceed as before
  • Spanish: proseguir — to continue or proceed as before
  • Swedish: fortsätta — to continue or proceed as before
  • Turkish: devam etmek — to continue or proceed as before
  • Turkish: sürdürmek — to continue or proceed as before
  • Ukrainian: продо́вжувати (prodóvžuvaty) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Ukrainian: продо́вжити (prodóvžyty) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Ukrainian: продо́вжуватися (prodóvžuvatysja) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Ukrainian: продо́вжитися (prodóvžytysja) — to continue or proceed as before
  • Welsh: gyrru ymlaen — to continue or proceed as before
  • Danish: føre — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • French: continuer — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • French: poursuivre — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • French: tenir — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • German: fortführen — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • German: aufrechterhalten — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • German: durchführen — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Italian: continuare — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Russian: продолжа́ть (prodolžátʹ) — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Russian: продо́лжить (prodólžitʹ) — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Scottish Gaelic: lean air — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Spanish: continuar — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Spanish: proseguir — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Ukrainian: продо́вжувати (prodóvžuvaty) — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Ukrainian: продо́вжити (prodóvžyty) — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Welsh: gyrru ymlaen — to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue
  • Danish: tage på vej — to act or behave
  • Danish: opføre sig — to act or behave
  • French: se comporter — to act or behave
  • German: aufführen — to act or behave
  • German: benehmen — to act or behave
  • Norwegian Bokmål: holde på — to act or behave
  • Norwegian Bokmål: oppføre seg — to act or behave
  • Swedish: bete sig — to act or behave
  • French: emporter — to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it
  • French: prendre — to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it
  • Occitan: prene — to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it
  • Occitan: prendre — to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it
  • Occitan: emportar — to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it