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

P

to proceed

vsto carry on

763 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 going

vsto carry on

357 1.6

To continue doing something without stopping

stresses continuing despite interruptions or specific difficulties rather than simple duration

K

to keep on

vsto carry on

306 1.4

Continue doing something without stopping

adds a stronger sense of going on despite interruptions or difficulties

H

to hold on

vsto carry on

173 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

G

to get on with

vsto carry on

168 2.3

Continue doing something, especially after an interruption

emphasizes persistence through difficulties more than simple resuming and progress

G

to go along

vsto carry on

95 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

H

to hang on

vsto carry on

• Informal

46 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

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

P

to push through

vsto carry on

39 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

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

P

to press on

vsto carry on

26 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

R

to run on

vsto carry on

24 2.8

To keep going for longer than expected without stopping

is about choosing to continue despite problems rather than unexpected duration

P

to push on

vsto carry on

21 3.7

Move forward or keep going despite difficulty

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

P

to persist in

vsto carry on

20 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

C

to carry on with

vsto carry on

19 2.6

Continue doing something after a pause or interruption

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

P

to plough on

vsto carry on

• UK

1 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

C

to contin

vsto carry on

• Archaic

9.9

To keep doing something without stopping

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

K

to keep on pushing through

vsto carry on

• Informal

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

310 1.0

An act when something ends or pauses

How Persistent

to persist

62 3.7

to press on

26 3.9

to carry on

253 2.7

to keep going

357 1.6

to continue

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology