carry
gb/kˈɛɹi/ us/kˈɛɹi/
A1
English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A1
action
1
Transport while supporting
To hold something and take it from one place to another.
Usage pattern:
to carry [something/someone] [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'carry' with 'wear' when talking about clothes. 'Wear' means to have clothes on your body; 'carry' means to hold and take something with you.
Synonyms
transport (More formal and general; can refer to moving by any means, not just by hand.)
|
bear (Formal or literary; often used for heavy loads or responsibilities.)
Antonyms
drop (Let something fall instead of holding and moving it.)
|
leave (Not taking something with you when you move.)
Collocations
carry a bag
|carry groceries
|carry a child
|carry luggage
|carry a box
Themes
daily life
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She carried the baby up the stairs.
- I always carry my phone in my pocket.
- Could you carry these boxes to the garage?
- He carried the groceries into the kitchen.
- The waiter carried the tray carefully to the table.
Learner examples
- I carry my school bag every day.
- Please carry this chair to the other room.
- He carries his lunch in a small box.
- Can you carry the water for me?
- They carry books to the library.
Verb
A2
action
2
Have with you while moving
To have something with you when you go somewhere.
Usage pattern:
to carry [something]
Synonyms
bring (Focuses more on arriving somewhere with something rather than simply having it.)
Antonyms
leave behind (Fail to take something with you.)
Collocations
carry identification
|carry money
|carry a passport
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You should always carry some cash.
- She carries her ID at all times.
- I never carry an umbrella, even when it rains.
Learner examples
- I carry my keys in my pocket.
- He carries a small bag every day.
- She carries her phone everywhere.
Verb
B1
action
3
Be responsible for something
To have an important job or duty.
Usage pattern:
to carry [responsibility/burden/risk]
Synonyms
shoulder (Figurative; similar meaning but more vivid in imagery.)
Antonyms
avoid responsibility (Not take on responsibility or duty.)
Collocations
carry responsibility
|carry a burden
|carry risk
Themes
work
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He carries the responsibility for the whole project.
- Parents carry a lot of responsibility for their children.
- This job carries a high level of risk.
Learner examples
- She carries the job alone.
- He carries many duties at work.
- The teacher carries big responsibility.
Verb
B2
action
4
Transmit sound, light, or signal
When sound, light, or signal goes far enough so people can hear, see, or get it.
Synonyms
transmit (More technical; often used for electronic communication.)
Antonyms
fade (Gradually disappear or become too weak to detect.)
Collocations
carry sound
|carry a signal
Themes
communication
|technology
|science
Examples
- The sound of the bells carried across the valley.
- Her voice carried through the crowded hall.
- This radio can carry the signal over long distances.
Learner examples
- The music carries to my house.
- His voice carries in the empty room.
- The radio carries news far away.
Verb
B1
action
5
Move forward with ball/object in sports
To move with the ball during a game.
Synonyms
dribble (In basketball or soccer, specifically moving the ball with repeated touches.)
Collocations
carry the ball
Themes
sports
Examples
- He carried the ball across the goal line.
- You can't carry the ball without dribbling in basketball.
- The player carried the puck down the ice.
Learner examples
- He carries the ball fast.
- She carries the puck to the goal.
- They carry the ball down the field.
Grammar
Dictionary form
carry
IPA
GB/kˈɛɹi/
US/kˈɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
carry (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (carry)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: carry
- 3rd Person Singular: carries
- Present Participle: carrying
- Past: carried
Word family
Expressions
carry forward
1/kˈɛɹi fˈɔɹwɚd/
phrasal verb
Move to later stage/time
To keep something for later use or next time.
Examples
- We will carry forward last year's budget surplus.
- These lessons will be carried forward into future projects.
carry off
1/kˈɛɹi ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
Succeed at difficult task
To do something hard successfully.
Examples
- She carried off the performance with great skill.
- He managed to carry off a surprise party without her knowing.
carry on
1/kˈɛɹi ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Continue after interruption
To keep doing something after stopping or after something happens.
Examples
- After a short break, they carried on working.
- Carry on with your homework while I make dinner.
carry out
1/kˈɛɹi ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Perform and finish a task
To do and finish a job or plan.
Examples
- The scientists carried out an important experiment.
- She carried out her duties efficiently.
carry weight
1/kˈɛɹi wˈeɪt/
idiom
have influence or importance
To be important and able to influence people or decisions.
Examples
- His recommendations carry a lot of weight with management.
- In politics, endorsements from celebrities can carry weight.
carry weight
2/kˈɛɹi wˈeɪt/
idiom
Have influence or importance
To be important and able to change what people think or do.
Examples
- Her opinion carries weight in this company.
- In politics, his words carry a lot of weight.