carry forward: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2-C1Formal to neutral, common in business, accounting, and project management contexts.
Quick answer
What does “carry forward” mean?
To transfer or apply something (like a sum, benefit, or task) from one period, situation, or stage to a later one.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To transfer or apply something (like a sum, benefit, or task) from one period, situation, or stage to a later one.
To make progress with an idea, plan, or legacy inherited from the past; to continue developing something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Carry over' is a more common synonym in both, but 'carry forward' is standard in accounting/tax terminology.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both varieties. In UK English, may be more tightly associated with official financial reporting.
Frequency
Equally common in professional contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “carry forward” in a Sentence
[Subject] carries forward [Object] to/into [Time/Place][Object] be carried forward (from X) to YVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carry forward” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You may carry forward up to five days of unused holiday entitlement.
- The committee voted to carry the motion forward to the next session.
American English
- Investors can carry forward capital losses indefinitely.
- We need to carry this project's findings forward into Phase 2.
adverb
British English
- The data is applied carry-forward to the new model. (Technical/rare)
American English
- The adjustment was handled carry-forward. (Technical/rare)
adjective
British English
- The carried-forward amount will appear in column 5.
- There is a significant carried-forward balance from last quarter.
American English
- The carried-forward losses reduced their tax liability.
- Please review the carried-forward tasks in the log.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company can carry forward these tax losses to offset future profits.
Academic
The researcher carried forward the hypothesis from her preliminary study into the main experiment.
Everyday
Let's carry forward this positive energy into next week's meeting.
Technical
The software update carries forward all user settings from the previous version.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “carry forward”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “carry forward”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carry forward”
- Using 'carry on' instead (which means 'continue doing', not 'transfer').
- Confusing 'carry forward' with 'bring forward' (which can mean 'to move a meeting to an earlier time').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In many contexts, especially accounting and project management, they are synonyms. 'Carry forward' can sound slightly more formal or intentional, while 'carry over' is more general.
It is very rarely used for physical objects. Its use is almost always abstract, referring to numbers, rights, ideas, or states. For physical objects, 'carry over' or simply 'carry' is used.
The direct opposite is often 'write off' (to acknowledge a loss) or 'lapse' (for something like leave that expires and cannot be transferred).
When hyphenated, it typically functions as a noun (e.g., 'a carry-forward of losses') or an adjective (e.g., 'the carry-forward amount'). The verb form is always two separate words: 'carry forward'.
To transfer or apply something (like a sum, benefit, or task) from one period, situation, or stage to a later one.
Carry forward is usually formal to neutral, common in business, accounting, and project management contexts. in register.
Carry forward: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæri ˈfɔːwəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæri ˈfɔːrwərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Carry forward the torch”
- “Carry the momentum forward”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine physically CARRYING a box labelled 'Last Year's Work' FORWARD into the New Year's office.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE / PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION. Treating abstract quantities or situations as objects that can be moved along a timeline.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'carry forward' MOST specifically and correctly used?