carrying on

Verb

carry on (third-person singular simple present carries on, present participle carrying on, simple past and past participle carried on)

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To continue or proceed as before.
   • I’ll be gone for a few days, but I hope you will carry on in my absence.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To continue, maintain or pursue (an activity or enterprise).
   • to carry on commerce in a market
3. (idiomatic, intransitive) To persist, persevere.
   • Near-synonyms: keep on, hang in, hang on, keep on keeping on

   Synonyms:

   keep on, hang in, hang on, keep on keeping on

4. (idiomatic, intransitive) To talk continuously or prolongedly (about something), often in an excessively excited way.
   • Near-synonym: go on

   Synonyms:

   go on

5. (idiomatic, intransitive) To act or behave; especially, to misbehave so as to attract attention; to make a fuss; to behave ostentatiously.
   • I really wish you wouldn't carry on like that in public!
6. (idiomatic, intransitive) To have an illicit sexual or flirtatious relationship.
   • I thought he was my friend, but all the time he was carrying on with my wife!

See all 7 meanings of carry on