carry-in: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “carry-in” mean?
An item or food brought into a place for personal use or a social occasion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An item or food brought into a place for personal use or a social occasion; the act of bringing something in.
Can refer to a policy (e.g., for electronics at a workplace), a type of event where attendees bring their own food/drink, or the process of importing goods/services.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'bring-your-own' (BYO) is more common for food/drink events. 'Carry-in' is understood but less frequent and often seen as an Americanism in business/tech contexts (e.g., carry-in devices).
Connotations
In the UK, it may sound slightly corporate or jargony. In the US, it is standard in workplace/IT policy and informal for communal meals.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English, particularly in Midwestern and corporate contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “carry-in” in a Sentence
carry-in [noun] (attributive)a/the [noun] is a carry-in (noun)to allow/ban carry-ins (plural noun)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carry-in” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The new carry-in device policy is under review.
- It was a lovely carry-in supper.
American English
- The repair shop offers carry-in diagnostics.
- We're having a carry-in potluck on Friday.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a policy on employee-owned devices (e.g., 'The company updated its carry-in device policy.').
Academic
Rare; could describe equipment brought into a lab.
Everyday
Mostly used for shared meals where each person contributes a dish (e.g., 'It's a carry-in, so just bring a salad.').
Technical
In IT, describes hardware brought in for service or integration into a system.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carry-in”
- Using it as a main verb (e.g., 'I will carry-in my laptop' is non-standard; prefer 'I will bring my laptop in').
- Confusing 'carry-in' with 'take-out' (the opposite concept).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar for food events. 'Potluck' emphasises the shared, random nature of the meal, while 'carry-in' emphasises the act of bringing the food in. They are often used interchangeably in American English.
No, it is not standard. It is used as a noun (e.g., 'a carry-in') or, more commonly, as an adjective (e.g., 'carry-in lunch'). The phrasal verb 'bring in' or 'carry in' (two words) is used for the action.
Not very. For food events, 'bring-and-share' or simply 'bring a dish' are more common. In technical contexts, 'personal', 'user-owned', or 'BYOD' (Bring Your Own Device) are preferred.
A catered event or a 'sit-down meal' where the food is provided by the host or a professional service.
An item or food brought into a place for personal use or a social occasion.
Carry-in is usually technical/formal in register.
Carry-in: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæ.ri ɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæ.ri ɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CARRYING something INto a building or event.
Conceptual Metaphor
BRINGING IS CONTRIBUTING (for events); OWNERSHIP IS MOBILITY (for devices).
Practice
Quiz
In a corporate IT context, what does 'carry-in' most likely refer to?