carry-on

[kar-ee-on, -awn]

adjective

1. of a size and shape suitable for being carried onto and stowed in the passenger compartment of an airplane.

   carry-on luggage.

noun

1. a piece of carry-on luggage.

carry on

verb

1. (intr) to continue or persevere

   we must carry on in spite of our difficulties

2. (tr) to manage or conduct

   to carry on a business

3. informal,  to have an affair

4. informal,  (intr) to cause a fuss or commotion

noun

1. informal,  a fuss or commotion

adjective

1. (of luggage) to be taken inside an aircraft by hand personally by a passenger

Word History and Origins

Origin of carry on¹

First recorded in 1950–55; adj., noun use of verb phrase carry on

Idioms and Phrases

Maintain, conduct, as in The villagers carried on a thriving trade , or They carried on a torrid love affair . [c. 1600]

Continue or progress, persevere, as in I'm sure you can carry on without me . [Mid-1600s]

Behave in an excited, improper, or silly manner, as in They laughed and sang and carried on rather noisily . [Early 1800s]

Flirt, engage in an illicit love affair, as in She accused her friend of carrying on with her husband . [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

"Then carried on working here and now I've also now started part-time work as well so I don't rely on it as much."

From BBC

Now, he helps carry on the two artists’ legacies.

From Los Angeles Times

James said she had an idea of how bad her injury was during the Sweden tie, but wanted to carry on playing to help her team.

From BBC

“We shared a really personal conversation, talking about how she has carried on and found the strength these past few months,” the host said.

From Los Angeles Times

However, Djokovic carried on without real problems and, after a sluggish start to the second set, he won four games in a row to assert a two-set lead.

From BBC

Related Words

• continue