Dictionary

carry on en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈkaɾe ˈɔn/ (Scotland)
• /ˈkæɹi ˈɑn/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkaɾi ˈɔn/ (Scotland)

Etymology

Equivalent to carry onward.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To continue or proceed as before.
   • I’ll be gone for a few days, but I hope you will carry on in my absence.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To continue, maintain or pursue (an activity or enterprise).
   • to carry on commerce in a market
   • Around 1825, however, prior to the main shift, the major ports in Kwangtung and Fukien from which trade was carried on with Siam (see Maps 2, 3, 4) were (1) Canton and Chiang-men in the Cantonese emigrant area,[…] 1957, G. William Skinner, “Open Doors and Open Spaces: Chinese Migration and Population Growth to 1917”, in Chinese Society in Thailand: An Analytical History, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, →OCLC, pages 41–42:
   • It is difficult to carry on a conversation with so many distractions.
   • Carry on the good work.
3. (idiomatic, intransitive) To persist, persevere.
   • In his favour, Beeching declared that he supported carrying on with the existing modernisation projects, but that the rest of the business needed root and branch reform. 2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 52:
   • keep calm and carry on
   • The Schynige Platte Railway carries on its traffic with no more than four electric locomotives (with one steam locomotive in reserve). 1960 December, Voyageur, “The Mountain Railways of the Bernese Oberland”, in Trains Illustrated, page 755:
   • Near-synonyms: keep on, hang in, hang on, keep on keeping on
   • He carried on a long conversation with the dragoman in Turkish, the upshot of which was that he would give me a "buyuruldu" or special order to go to Sivas, and would provide an escort if the British Consul would send a written guarantee that I was a bona fide traveller. 1897, Charles Clive Bigham Mersey, A ride through western Asia, London, New York: Macmillan, →OCLC, page 18:
4. (idiomatic, intransitive) To talk continuously or prolongedly (about something), often in an excessively excited way.
   • Near-synonym: go on
   • He’s always carrying on about his stupid aquarium.
5. (idiomatic, intransitive) To act or behave; especially, to misbehave so as to attract attention; to make a fuss; to behave ostentatiously.
   • I could hear some protestors hollering, but I wasn't close enough to make out what was happening. What were they carrying on about?
   • I really wish you wouldn't carry on like that in public!
6. (idiomatic, intransitive) To have an illicit sexual or flirtatious relationship.
   • I thought he was my friend, but all the time he was carrying on with my wife!

Forms

Deriveds

carry on like a pork chop · carrying-on

Relateds

on and on (talk prolongedly) · on about (talk prolongedly)

Synonyms

keep on · hang in · see misbehave § Synonyms · hang on · keep on keeping on · go on

carry on en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈkaɾe ˈɔn/ (Scotland)
• /ˈkæɹi ˈɑn/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkaɾi ˈɔn/ (Scotland)

Etymology

Equivalent to carry onto.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) alternative spelling of carry-on
   alt of carry-on

Forms

carry on en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈkaɾe ˈɔn/ (Scotland)
• /ˈkæɹi ˈɑn/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈkaɾi ˈɔn/ (Scotland)

Etymology

Equivalent to carry onto.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive, transitive) To take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it.
   • You may only carry on items that are smaller than a certain size.
   • Will you be checking any bags, or just carrying on?
   • You may carry them on if they fit within the limits.

Forms

Deriveds

carryon · carry-on

Translations (54)

es proseguir (to continue or proceed as before) · sv bete sig (to act or behave) · fi jatkaa (to continue or proceed as before) · da føre (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · ru продолжа́ть (to continue or proceed as before) · nb oppføre seg (to act or behave) · es continuar (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · ru продолжа́ть (to continue or proceed as before) · fr continuer (to continue or proceed as before) · uk продо́вжитися (to continue or proceed as before) · nb fortsette (to continue or proceed as before) · uk продо́вжувати (to continue or proceed as before) · de aufführen (to act or behave) · de fortführen (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · uk продо́вжити (to continue or proceed as before) · oc emportar (to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it) · ru продолжа́ть (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · da fortsætte (to continue or proceed as before) · it andare avanti (to continue or proceed as before) · nb holde på (to act or behave) · gd lean air (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · de weitermachen (to continue or proceed as before) · oc prendre (to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it) · fr tenir (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · tr devam etmek (to continue or proceed as before) · ru продолжа́ться (to continue or proceed as before) · gd lean air (to continue or proceed as before) · es proseguir (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · de benehmen (to act or behave) · uk продо́вжувати (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · fr poursuivre (to continue or proceed as before) · fr poursuivre (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · fa ادامه دادن (to continue or proceed as before) · uk продо́вжити (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · it continuare (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · da opføre sig (to act or behave) · uk продо́вжуватися (to continue or proceed as before) · fr se comporter (to act or behave) · fr emporter (to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it) · da tage på vej (to act or behave) · fr continuer (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · oc perseguir (to continue or proceed as before) · es continuar (to continue or proceed as before) · de durchführen (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · cy gyrru ymlaen (to continue or proceed as before) · ru продо́лжить (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · sv fortsätta (to continue or proceed as before) · cy gyrru ymlaen (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · oc continuar (to continue or proceed as before) · fr prendre (to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it) · ru продолжа́ться (to continue or proceed as before) · tr sürdürmek (to continue or proceed as before) · de aufrechterhalten (to continue, maintain or pursue an activity or enterprise (transitive) — see also continue, maintain, pursue) · oc prene (to take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it)