carry
carry — verb
1. to take hold of a person or object and bring them to a different location, typic
to take hold of a person or object and bring them to a different location, typically by holding them against your body or supporting their weight
Minho carried the heavy box up three flights of stairs to his new flat.
carry + object + up + stairs (physical effort)
The nurse carried the newborn baby carefully to the mother's room.
Can you carry these shopping bags from the car to the kitchen for me?
Jenna carried her little sister on her back through the crowded market.
The students were told to carry their own chairs into the hall.
- drop
to let something fall from your hands
文法句型
carry + object + from + to + place
常見錯誤
2. to transport people or goods using a vehicle, or to enable water, electricity, o
to transport people or goods using a vehicle, or to enable water, electricity, or similar resources to move through pipes, wires, or other channels between locations
These copper wires carry electricity to every house in the village.
carry + electricity + to (via cables)
The pipeline carries natural gas from the coast to the capital city.
carry + resource + from + to (via pipeline)
The ferry can carry up to two hundred passengers across the river each day.
A network of canals carries water from the mountains to the dry farmlands.
This bus line carries thousands of commuters into the city every morning.
文法句型
carry + resource + from + to + place
carry + passengers + across/along + route
用法筆記
Distinguish from the TRANSPORT sense (sense 1), which involves a person physically holding and moving something. This sense describes movement through vehicles, pipes, or cables.
常見錯誤
3. to keep an item in your pocket, bag, or vehicle so that it is ready for use when
to keep an item in your pocket, bag, or vehicle so that it is ready for use when you need it
Defne always carries a small notebook in her bag to write down ideas.
carry + object + in + bag (habitual)
Do you carry your phone with you when you go for a run?
Hao never carries cash; he pays for everything with his phone.
The security guard is required to carry a radio at all times.
Adina carries a photo of her family in her wallet wherever she travels.
- have on you
more conversational, means the same thing
- bring along
emphasizes taking something with you to a specific place
- leave behind
to not take something with you when you go
文法句型
carry + object + in/on [location]
always carry + object
用法筆記
The object is typically small enough to fit in a pocket or bag. For larger items that stay in one place, use 'keep' instead. Common collocations: carry a phone, wallet, passport, keys, umbrella, ID card.
常見錯誤
4. to contain a particular quality, feature, message, label, or result as an inhere
to contain a particular quality, feature, message, label, or result as an inherent part of something — for example, a product carrying a warranty or a decision carrying certain risks
The new smartphone carries a two-year warranty against manufacturing faults.
carry + warranty (product feature)
All our products carry a label showing where they were made.
carry + label/tag
Being a manager carries certain privileges, such as a private office.
Every investment carries some degree of risk that you must accept.
This research paper carries an urgent message about rising sea levels.
文法句型
carry + abstract noun (message/risk/label/warranty)
用法筆記
The subject is typically an object, role, product, or situation rather than a person. Frequently used for inherent attributes such as warranties, risks, labels, messages, or legal consequences. Not used for temporary possessions.
5. to communicate information, spread news, or transmit a disease between people or
to communicate information, spread news, or transmit a disease between people or groups, often resulting in wide reach
Mosquitoes can carry the virus from one person to another through their bites.
carry + disease + from + to + through (transmission)
The local newspaper carried a front-page story about the new hospital.
newspaper carries + story
Social media helped carry the campaign message to millions of young people.
Tourists can carry diseases from one country to another without knowing it.
- contain
to prevent something from spreading
文法句型
carry + disease/information + from + to
newspaper/broadcast carries + story
用法筆記
Common with diseases, news, stories, or ideas. In news contexts, the subject is often a publication or broadcast ('the paper carried an article'). Not used for physical objects being passed hand-to-hand.
6. to hold up the weight of a person or object so that it does not fall or break, e
to hold up the weight of a person or object so that it does not fall or break, even under heavy pressure
The old wooden bridge can carry the weight of a small car.
carry + the weight of + object
These steel beams are designed to carry the roof of the building.
designed to carry + load/roof
Beatriz worried that the thin shelf would not carry the weight of her books.
A concrete floor can carry much more weight than a wooden one.
- collapse
to fall down under weight
文法句型
carry + the weight of + object
designed to carry + load
用法筆記
Common in engineering and construction contexts. Often followed by a phrase indicating the weight or load. The passive form is frequent: 'The bridge is designed to carry...' Distinguish from the TRANSPORT sense (sense 1), where something is being moved rather than held stationary.
7. to be the main force that keeps a business, team, project, or system running suc
to be the main force that keeps a business, team, project, or system running successfully — for example, one employee carrying an entire department through their own effort.
Shirin carries the marketing team with her energy and creative ideas.
carry + team — personal effort sustains a group
The new manager relies on a few workers to carry the whole project.
Their small family business has been carried by three generations of hard work.
The local cinema is barely carrying enough ticket sales to stay open.
文法句型
carry + noun phrase (business/team/project)
用法筆記
Commonly used to describe a person or a small group whose effort is disproportionately responsible for a larger organisation's functioning. Often followed by an object like 'team', 'department', 'business', or 'operation'.
常見錯誤
8. to succeed in getting people to agree with your opinion or proposal, or to feel
to succeed in getting people to agree with your opinion or proposal, or to feel sympathy for your point of view — for instance, a speaker carrying the audience with an emotional speech.
The senator carried the crowd with a powerful story about his childhood.
carry + crowd + with + [story/argument]
Caio's logical arguments carried the committee, and the proposal was accepted.
Their campaign failed to carry the younger voters, who mostly stayed home.
Ritu carried the room with her calm explanation, turning angry listeners into supporters.
- lose
fail to gain support: 'His speech lost the crowd.'
文法句型
carry + audience/crowd/people
carry + someone + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in political or public-speaking contexts. The direct object is a group of people (audience, crowd, committee, voters, room). Not used with a single individual as object.
常見錯誤
9. to formally approve a proposal, resolution, or bill by receiving enough votes fo
to formally approve a proposal, resolution, or bill by receiving enough votes for it to pass — for example, a motion being carried by a clear majority in a meeting.
The motion to build a new school was carried by a vote of twelve to three.
passive: be carried by [vote count]
The board carried the resolution after hours of heated discussion.
carry + resolution/bill/motion
The proposed law failed to carry in parliament, so it will not take effect.
The committee chair declared the proposal carried, and the meeting moved on to other business.
文法句型
carry + motion/resolution/bill
be carried
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive ('the motion was carried'). The subject is typically a legislative body, committee, or board. Active voice ('the board carried the motion') is less common but acceptable.
常見錯誤
10. if a newspaper, website, television programme, or other public source carries in
if a newspaper, website, television programme, or other public source carries information, it shows, publishes, or broadcasts that piece of content to the public.
The front page of the local paper carried a photo of the rescue team.
carry + photo/headline/story — publish or display
All the major news websites carried the story about the earthquake within minutes.
The magazine carried an article on how to start a vegetable garden at home.
The evening news carried a short report about the new hospital opening.
文法句型
carry + noun phrase (headline/story/article)
用法筆記
The subject is always a publication, broadcast channel, website, or other content-distributing medium. The object is the specific piece of content (story, article, photo, report, review). Frequently used in journalism.
常見錯誤
11. used to describe a sound that travels through the air and stays clear enough to
used to describe a sound that travels through the air and stays clear enough to be heard at a distance — for instance, a voice travelling across a large room or music reaching the back of a concert hall.
The singer's voice carried across the entire concert hall without a microphone.
sound + carries + across/through/over [distance]
Sound carries much farther over water than it does over land.
Tariro's laughter carried down the hallway, and everyone turned to look.
In the quiet mountain air, the church bells carried for miles.
文法句型
carry + (adverb of distance)
sound/voice/noise + carries
用法筆記
Always intransitive — the sound itself is the subject. No object follows. Adverbs of distance (far, across, for miles, down the hall) are typical. Common in descriptions of acoustics, nature, and performance venues.
常見錯誤
12. to do something so that an activity, tradition, or process continues to develop
to do something so that an activity, tradition, or process continues to develop or remains active beyond its current point — for instance, carrying research forward into a new phase.
The team plans to carry their research forward into clinical trials next year.
carry + [work/research] + forward/on — continue developing
Parents carry traditions from one generation to the next through festivals and stories.
The momentum from the first win carried the athletes through the rest of the season.
Daichi carried his interest in photography into a full-time career after university.
文法句型
carry + noun + forward/on/through/to
用法筆記
Nearly always accompanied by a directional adverb or preposition (forward, on, through, into, to). The object is typically abstract: work, tradition, momentum, interest, energy. Without the directional word, the meaning shifts to a different sense.
常見錯誤
13. to adopt a particular posture or way of walking that reveals your emotional stat
to adopt a particular posture or way of walking that reveals your emotional state or character — such as standing tall with quiet confidence or treading with careful steps.
Talia carries herself with quiet confidence even during difficult meetings.
reflexive carry yourself + adverb of manner
Despite being the youngest member of the team, Nia carries herself like a seasoned professional.
The old professor carried himself as if he owned the entire lecture hall.
After the accident, Feng carried himself more carefully, aware of every step.
Otis carries himself with such natural dignity that people tend to trust him immediately.
文法句型
carry + reflexive pronoun + adverb
用法筆記
The object of this sense is nearly always a reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself, themselves). The adverb or adverbial phrase that follows describes the manner of composure.
常見錯誤
14. when adding digits in arithmetic, to shift a digit to the column with the next h
when adding digits in arithmetic, to shift a digit to the column with the next higher place value because the current column's total is ten or more.
When you add 7 and 8, you get 15, so you write down 5 and carry the 1 to the tens column.
Hiro showed his younger brother how to carry numbers when adding 67 and 48.
carry + noun (numbers) in addition context
You must carry the extra digit whenever the sum in a column is ten or more.
Mark checked his addition and realised he had forgotten to carry the 2 from the units column.
The teacher explained that carrying is necessary when adding numbers with more than one digit.
文法句型
carry + number + to/into + column
用法筆記
The number being carried is usually a single digit (1, 2, etc.). This sense is taught in basic arithmetic and rarely appears outside primary-school or calculation contexts.
常見錯誤
15. to grip the ball and run toward the opposing team's goal in American football, g
to grip the ball and run toward the opposing team's goal in American football, gaining ground for your side in the process.
Ziad carried the ball forty yards before being tackled near the twenty-yard line.
carry + the ball + distance phrase
The quarterback surprised everyone by deciding to carry the ball himself instead of passing.
Esteban carried five times in the final quarter and gained two key first downs.
The running back carried the ball into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown.
Darius has carried for over one hundred yards in each of his last four games.
- rush
standard American football term; 'rush the ball' is more common than 'carry the ball' in modern commentary
- run with the ball
more general and descriptive, not restricted to American football
文法句型
carry + the ball
carry + distance/yardage
用法筆記
Frequently used in sports commentary and statistics. The player performing the action is called a 'ball carrier'. This sense can be intransitive (specifying yardage or number of attempts) or transitive (specifying the ball as object).
16. in sports such as soccer or ice hockey, to keep the ball or puck under your cont
in sports such as soccer or ice hockey, to keep the ball or puck under your control while moving forward across the playing area.
Ayesha carried the ball past two defenders before passing to an open teammate.
carry + the ball + past [players]
The hockey player carried the puck along the boards and into the offensive zone.
Sari carried the ball down the left wing and crossed it into the penalty area.
The midfielder carried the ball confidently through the centre of the pitch.
Harper carried the puck around the net and tried to tuck it past the goalkeeper.
- dribble
more common for soccer and basketball; 'dribble' emphasises repeated small touches while 'carry' emphasises forward progression
- skate with
ice-hockey-specific; 'skate with the puck' implies the player is moving on skates
文法句型
carry + the ball/puck + adverbial
用法筆記
In soccer, 'dribble' is more common for general ball control, but 'carry' emphasises purposeful forward movement. In ice hockey, 'carry' is the standard term for moving the puck on the stick.
17. in basketball, to commit an illegal dribbling move by letting your hand go under
in basketball, to commit an illegal dribbling move by letting your hand go underneath the ball and then turning it over, instead of keeping your hand on top.
The referee blew the whistle and called a carry violation on the young point guard.
carry as noun: 'carry violation'
Tara was furious when the official said she had carried the ball on her crossover dribble.
Young players often get called for carrying when they try flashy dribbling moves.
The coach warned the team that any carry would result in losing possession of the ball.
Sirin carefully practised keeping her hand on top of the ball to avoid carrying during games.
- palm
alternative term for the same violation; 'palming the ball' is the formal rulebook phrase
文法句型
carry + the ball (passive: get called for carrying)
用法筆記
Also called 'palming' in official basketball rulebooks. A carry violation results in a turnover — the other team gets the ball. This sense is most common in coaching and refereeing contexts.
18. in golf, to send the ball through the air over an obstacle like a sand trap, wat
in golf, to send the ball through the air over an obstacle like a sand trap, water, or ridge, reaching a farther part of the course in one stroke.
Caio carried the bunker and landed the ball softly on the edge of the green.
carry + [hazard] without specifying ball
The golfer had to carry the water hazard to reach the fairway in one shot.
From that distance, even a professional would struggle to carry the trees at the corner of the dogleg.
James chose a stronger club, hoping to carry the steep hill in front of him.
The strong wind made it much harder for Luca to carry the ball the full distance to the green.
文法句型
carry + [hazard/course feature]
用法筆記
Often used in golf commentary and strategy. The same term is used as a noun ('carry') meaning the distance a ball travels through the air before touching the ground.
19. In cricket, when a ball that a batsman hits or a fielder throws travels through
In cricket, when a ball that a batsman hits or a fielder throws travels through the air and reaches another player without first touching the ground.
The ball carried over the bowler's head and landed safely in the wicketkeeper's gloves.
cricket-specific: ball carries over field positions
At Lord's, the ball carries farther on a warm afternoon than on a damp morning.
adverb modifier: carries farther
Brian hit the ball high, and it carried over the fielder's head for a four.
The umpire signalled a six when the ball carried beyond the boundary line without bouncing.
- travel
general term for movement; cricket uses 'carry' to specify airborne path without a bounce
- bounce
a ball that bounces touches the ground before being caught or reaching a player
文法句型
ball + carries
carry + adverb (well/far/straight)
20. To have a developing baby inside your body during pregnancy.
To have a developing baby inside your body during pregnancy.
The ultrasound showed that Rania was carrying twins, which surprised the whole family.
carry + number of babies
After years of medical treatment, Folake was finally carrying a child of her own.
The veterinarian said the mare had been carrying her foal for nearly eleven months.
Women over the age of forty who carry a baby often receive extra medical check-ups.
The midwife gently told Yumi that she was carrying a healthy baby girl.
- be pregnant with
more direct and common in everyday speech; 'carry' is slightly more formal or literary
- expect
informal, often used in 'expecting a baby' phrase
文法句型
carry + noun (baby/child/foetus)
carry + number + noun (twins/triplets)
用法筆記
Frequently used in medical or formal contexts; 'pregnant' is more common in everyday conversation. Subject is almost always a female person or female animal.
常見錯誤
21. To have a disease-causing organism or a genetic trait inside your body and be ab
To have a disease-causing organism or a genetic trait inside your body and be able to pass it to other people or to your children, even if you do not show symptoms yourself.
Some mosquitoes carry the malaria parasite and can infect humans through their bite.
insect carries disease to humans
Gabriel discovered that he carried the gene for hereditary deafness after a DNA test.
carry + gene
Health officials warned that many travellers carry the virus without showing any symptoms.
Indra and his wife both carried the recessive gene, giving their child a one-in-four risk.
The lab test confirmed that the patient carried a rare strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
文法句型
carry + disease/pathogen/parasite
carry + gene
carry + virus/bacteria
用法筆記
Often used in medical and scientific writing. The person or animal carrying the disease may not be ill themselves — the term describes the potential to spread rather than personal illness.
常見錯誤
22. To accept or bear a difficult duty, fault, pressure, or emotional weight as your
To accept or bear a difficult duty, fault, pressure, or emotional weight as your own to manage.
As the eldest sibling, Joaquín carried the responsibility of caring for his grandparents.
carry + the responsibility of + -ing
The manager carried the blame for the project, even though the mistake was not hers.
carry + blame
Soldiers carry the emotional weight of knowing they may be sent into dangerous situations.
Élise carried the pressure of being the first person in her family to attend university.
The CEO must carry the burden of meeting monthly targets while keeping staff motivated.
文法句型
carry + responsibility/blame/weight/burden
carry + the + responsibility + of + -ing
用法筆記
Often used with abstract nouns such as 'responsibility', 'blame', 'weight', 'burden', 'pressure'. The sense is close to 'bear' but 'carry' suggests active, ongoing management rather than passive endurance.
常見錯誤
23. If a shop or other business carries a product, it keeps that product available f
If a shop or other business carries a product, it keeps that product available for customers to buy, usually as part of its regular stock.
The local bookstore carries textbooks for every course offered at the university.
carry + products for a specific group
Otis asked the pharmacy assistant whether they carried allergy medicine without a prescription.
This supermarket now carries organic vegetables from nearby farms at lower prices.
Talia prefers to shop at stores that carry eco-friendly cleaning products.
The hardware store carries a wide range of paints, brushes, and decorating tools.
- discontinue
to stop stocking a product
文法句型
carry + product/item/brand
carry + a wide range/selection/variety
用法筆記
Subject is typically a shop, store, brand, or business. This sense does not apply to individual people carrying items personally.
常見錯誤
carry — noun
1. the activity or right of having a gun on or with your body, especially in public
the activity or right of having a gun on or with your body, especially in public or under the law
The new state law restricts the open carry of firearms in public parks.
restricts the open carry of firearms — legal/policy register
A permit is required for the concealed carry of a handgun in this county.
concealed carry — common compound with a gun type
Debate over campus carry has grown louder after the recent incident.
The officer was charged with unlawful carry of a weapon during the protest.
用法筆記
Almost always appears with a preceding adjective (open, concealed, campus) or in the phrase 'carry of [weapon type]'. Never used in the plural.
常見錯誤
2. in American football, a play in which a player runs forward while holding the ba
in American football, a play in which a player runs forward while holding the ball, trying to gain ground for the team
Dylan finished the game with 112 rushing yards on 18 carries.
number + carries — typical statistic format
The running back broke free for a spectacular 45-yard carry in the third quarter.
Coach Okafor called a draw, and Théo took the carry up the middle for eight yards.
Vivek leads the league in carries but is averaging only three yards per attempt.
- rush
more general term; 'carry' counts each individual play while 'rush' can refer to the action itself
用法筆記
Typically used with a number (yardage or count) and verbs like 'take', 'have', or 'finish with'. 'Carry' and 'rush' are interchangeable in this context.
3. in basketball, a rule-breaking move made when a player's hand slides below the b
in basketball, a rule-breaking move made when a player's hand slides below the ball during a bounce or when first starting to move, rather than staying above it
The referee blew the whistle and called a carry on the point guard.
called a carry on [player] — typical referee phrasing
Jin was flagged for a carry when his hand slid under the ball during a crossover.
Young players often get called for a carry before they learn proper dribbling form.
The coach yelled at Ayesha after the referee spotted a carry on her fast break.
- palming
broader term for the same violation in some rulebooks
用法筆記
Often used without an article in referee calls ('Carry!') but takes 'a' in descriptive contexts. Distinct from 'palming' which covers a slightly wider set of violations.
4. in golf, how far a ball flies in the air after being struck, measured from the h
in golf, how far a ball flies in the air after being struck, measured from the hit until it first lands on the ground
Mauricio selected a 7-iron because he needed more carry to clear the water hazard.
carry to clear [hazard] — typical course-management context
The new driver gave Roya an extra 15 yards of carry off the tee.
With a tailwind, Otis had plenty of carry and the ball rolled past the green.
Femi checked the carry distance on his rangefinder before choosing a club.
- air distance
more technical, same meaning
- roll
the distance the ball travels on the ground after landing
用法筆記
Golfers distinguish 'carry' (air distance) from 'roll' (ground distance). The two numbers together give the total distance of a shot. Common in compounds like 'carry distance'.
5. in cricket, how much the ball bounces upward and travels forward after it hits t
in cricket, how much the ball bounces upward and travels forward after it hits the ground from the bowler's throw
The pitch had low carry, so the ball stayed close to the ground after bouncing.
low/high carry — typical pitch description
Ilan struggled to judge the carry off the surface during the first session.
A dry wicket gives the fast bowlers extra carry and bounce to work with.
The spinner was frustrated by the lack of carry on the damp outfield.
用法筆記
Always uncountable in cricket use. Nearly always paired with an adjective ('low', 'high', 'extra', 'good') or contrasted with 'bounce'. Common in commentary and pitch reports.
6. the action of supporting and moving a person, especially a child, on your back,
the action of supporting and moving a person, especially a child, on your back, hip, or in your arms
Ayesha gave her little brother a carry on her shoulders during the parade.
give [someone] a carry — common informal structure
The toddler was tired and asked his father for a carry up the stairs.
Sari's back ached after a long carry through the airport with the baby.
Eric scooped the puppy up for a quick carry across the muddy yard.
- piggyback
specifically on the back, not in the arms
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the pattern 'give/have + a + carry'. The definite article is rare. Typically used with children or small pets; using it for an adult can sound humorous or patronising.
常見錯誤
carry — adjective
1. relating to the legal permission, rules, or documents that control whether someo
relating to the legal permission, rules, or documents that control whether someone may take a gun with them in public places
Zola applied for her carry permit after completing the firearms safety course.
collocation: carry permit
The state updated its carry laws to require background checks for all applicants.
collocation: carry laws
Jason renewed his carry license before the thirty-day expiry date.
Darius checked the local carry regulations before travelling across the border.
The court ruled that the new carry restrictions did not violate the constitution.
- firearms
used attributively in similar legal contexts ('firearms permit'), but broader — covers all types of guns, not just the act of carrying them
- concealed-carry
a narrower term that specifies carrying a hidden gun, while 'carry' may also cover open carry
文法句型
carry + noun (permit / law / license / regulation)
用法筆記
Primarily used before nouns such as 'permit', 'license', 'law', 'regulation', 'restriction', and 'policy'. This sense is most common in US legal and firearms contexts. It is not used as a predicative adjective (❌ 'This law is carry').