carry
/ˈkær.i/- 1.
To hold something and take it from one place to another. It can also mean to have something with you.
- Please carry this box upstairs.
- Do you carry your ID card?
- 2.
To support the weight of something. It can also mean to move or spread something.
- This bridge can carry heavy trucks.
- The wind carried the smell of rain.
- 3.
To continue or help something continue, such as a plan, idea, or action.
- We must carry this plan forward.
- She carried the discussion to the next point.
- 4.
To win or succeed in a difficult situation, especially in a game, election, or business task.
- His speech carried the audience.
- The team carried the match in the last over.
Adinary Nuance
Carry is broader than 'take' and more physical than 'bring'. Use 'carry' when something is being held, supported, or transported, often by a person, vehicle, or force. It can also mean 'continue' or 'succeed', which 'take' usually cannot.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mang
- Spanish
- llevar
- Chinese
- 携带
- Japanese
- 持ち運ぶ
- Korean
- 가지고 가다
Etymology
Carry comes from Old North French carier, from Latin carrus, meaning 'cart' or 'wagon'. The word entered English in the Middle Ages and kept the idea of moving something from place to place.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between carry and bring?
- Use carry for the action of holding and moving something. Use bring for movement toward the speaker or listener.
- Is carry a formal word?
- No, carry is common in everyday English and also works in business writing.
- Can carry mean more than 'take something'?
- Yes. It can also mean support, continue, spread, or help something succeed.
- What does carry out mean?
- Carry out means to do a task, plan, or order.