to carry on

Examples

• All

• Students are prepared to carry on the Q&A for the duration.

• Anyway, I'm just going to carry on now and I'll see you guys.

• I just, I think I carried on writing songs.

• I want you to go back and carry on the good work.

  Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

• Well, I hope you carry on enjoying every single day.

  Liam Tuffs

• Three of us, Dave, Bruce, and I, were left to carry on the journeyman drinking tradition.

  Fiction book (1990)

• It is now our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began.

• After the interruption, she decided to carry on with her report as planned.

• Despite the challenges, he made a point to carry on with his training for the marathon.

• Even when faced with obstacles, the team chose to carry on with their project until completion.

Synonyms

C

to continue

vsto carry on

∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

adds the idea of continuing even after interruptions or when things are hard

G

to go on

vsto carry on

∞ 1.0

Keep happening or keep being done without stopping

adds emphasis on continuing despite interruptions or adverse conditions

K

to keep going

vsto carry on

892 1.6

To continue doing something without stopping

stresses continuing despite interruptions or specific difficulties rather than simple duration

P

to proceed

vsto carry on

697 3.0

Begin or continue an action after a pause, often as planned

leans more on carrying on despite interruptions or difficulties than planned progression

K

to keep on

vsto carry on

604 1.4

Continue doing something without stopping

adds a stronger sense of going on despite interruptions or difficulties

G

to get on with

vsto carry on

229 2.3

Continue doing something, especially after an interruption

emphasizes persistence through difficulties more than simple resuming and progress

H

to hang on

vsto carry on

• Informal

227 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

is less about stubborn refusal and more about continuing after interruptions or troubles

G

to go along

vsto carry on

113 2.1

To continue doing something or stay in the same state

focuses more on continuing when interrupted or under strain rather than mere steadiness

P

to push through

vsto carry on

98 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

is broader, covering continuing after interruptions as well as fighting difficulties

H

to hold on

vsto carry on

82 3.3

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

is similar but also covers simply resuming after interruptions without strong resistance

P

to push on

vsto carry on

42 3.7

Move forward or keep going despite difficulty

is more general about continuing after interruptions or when things get hard

P

to press on

vsto carry on

35 3.9

To keep going with a task even when it is hard

adds the idea of resuming after pauses as well as persisting through difficulty

C

to carry on with

vsto carry on

29 2.6

Continue doing something after a pause or interruption

focuses on continuing despite problems rather than merely resuming after a pause

P

to persist in

vsto carry on

22 4.1

To keep doing something even when it is difficult or people disagree

is broader, also applying to continuing after pauses or minor interruptions

R

to run on

vsto carry on

17 2.8

To keep going for longer than expected without stopping

is about choosing to continue despite problems rather than unexpected duration

C

to contin

vsto carry on

• Archaic

3 9.9

To keep doing something without stopping

is the modern neutral phrase used for continuing despite interruptions or troubles

P

to plough on

vsto carry on

• UK

2 5.0

Keep doing something despite difficulty or others telling you to stop

is more neutral about interruptions and focuses on continuing despite general difficulties

K

to keep on pushing through

vsto carry on

• Informal

1 5.1

To continue to try hard even when things are difficult

covers general continuing after interruptions, not only strenuous or extreme effort

Antonyms

S

stop

117 1.0

An act when something ends or pauses

How Persistent

to persist

50 3.7

to press on

35 3.9

to carry on

285 2.7

to keep going

892 1.6

to continue

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology