carry on
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle on
Meanings
Continue doing something
Why “on”? An action, event, state, or path continues or moves to a later point.
“Carry on with your work.”
“Carry on with the story after the break.”
“Just carry on without me.”
“Maya and Leo carried on preparing the office presentation while the technician worked.”
“Maya and Leo carried on talking as the train passed through the city.”
Behave in a silly, loud or annoying way
“The kids were carrying on at the back.”
“Tom carried on when the referee refused his request.”
Have a romantic affair, often secretly
“She was carrying on with her boss.”
“Her husband discovered she was carrying on with an old friend.”
Memory hook
The action stays switched on — it keeps going.
Common mistake
Carry on to work.
Carry on working.
After carry on, use the -ing form to mean keep doing.
Natural collocations
The word partners “carry on” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
Don't confuse with
Carry on means continue doing something. Carry off means successfully do something difficult.
Carry on means continue doing something. Carry over means continue from one period or place into the next.
Test yourself
“Carry on with your work.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
carry off
A contrast learners often mix up
Successfully do something difficult
carry over
A contrast learners often mix up
Continue from one period or place into the next
bring on
Same on pattern: continuation
Cause something, especially an illness or feeling, to start; Help someone or something develop or improve
catch on
Same on pattern: continuation
Become popular or fashionable; Begin to understand something
come on
Same on pattern: continuation
Used to encourage, hurry or challenge someone; Begin to develop, especially an illness or weather; Start working or be turned on; Make progress or improve; Show romantic or sexual interest in someone, often in a direct way; Be broadcast on television or radio
crack on
Same on pattern: continuation
Continue working hard, often after a break
drag on
Same on pattern: continuation
Continue for too long in a tedious way
drone on
Same on pattern: continuation
Talk for a long time in a boring, monotonous voice
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