carried; carrying; carries
1
: to move while supporting : transport
her legs refused to carry her further—
Ellen Glasgow
Ellen Glasgow2
: to convey by direct communication
carry tales about a friend
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
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
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
Sue Grafton
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
Synonyms
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
J.t. Wampler, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024
Investing in digital assets carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors.
—Jon Stojan, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Nov. 2024
Robinson only had two carries for 5 yards in the second half.
—Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for carry 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Brian Hudson of Fayetteville carries his daughter, Sedona Hudson-Deputy, 2, Friday during the ceremonial flipping of the light switch for the 31st season of Lights of the Ozarks on the Fayetteville downtown square.
—J.t. Wampler, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024
Investing in digital assets carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors.
—Jon Stojan, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
Serving its intended purpose, the camera was a swift carry, both light as a feather and portable—a perfect fit for one hand for easy point and shoots.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Nov. 2024
Robinson only had two carries for 5 yards in the second half.
—Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for carry
Articles Related to carry
Dictionary Entries Near carry
Cite this Entry
“Carry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carry. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Donald MacGillis2
: to possess a specified gene
women who carry genes that increase the risk of breast cancer—Liz Szabo
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
Lisa Greene Love words? Need even more definitions?
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