carry out
C1 (Very High Frequency)Neutral to Formal (varies by context); the verb is standard across registers, while the noun 'carry-out' is informal.
Definition
Meaning
To perform, complete, or execute a task, plan, instruction, or piece of work.
To fulfill a promise or duty; to conduct a scientific test or investigation; to serve food or drinks to a customer (takeaway context).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically involves a sense of purposeful, planned action. When used with abstract nouns like 'duty' or 'promise', it implies a moral or social obligation. As a noun (hyphenated: carry-out/takeout), it refers to prepared food bought to be eaten elsewhere.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a verb phrase, the meaning is identical. The noun form for takeaway food is predominantly 'takeaway' in UK and 'takeout' in US. 'Carry-out' as a noun is more common in Scotland and parts of the US (especially the Midwest) than in standard UK or US English.
Connotations
Verb: Neutral. Noun (carry-out/takeout): Informal.
Frequency
The verb phrase 'carry out' is extremely frequent in both varieties. The noun form 'carry-out' is regionally variable and less frequent than the main alternatives.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + carry out + [Direct Object (Noun Phrase)][Subject] + carry + [Direct Object (Noun Phrase)] + out (less common, more formal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Carry out someone's wishes (to fulfil the desires of a deceased person).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The team will carry out a full audit of the accounts next quarter."
Academic
"The researchers carried out a longitudinal study over ten years."
Everyday
"Could you carry out the rubbish bins, please?"
Technical
"The software carries out a system integrity check on startup."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council failed to carry out its statutory duties.
- Let's get a carry-out curry from the Indian.
- The engineers will carry out the safety checks tomorrow.
American English
- The company carried out a detailed market analysis.
- We ordered carry-out from the new pizzeria.
- Soldiers must carry out orders without question.
adjective
British English
- A carry-out coffee (less common)
- The carry-out counter was busy.
American English
- Carry-out containers
- Is this for here or carry-out?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please carry out this simple exercise.
- The chef will carry out your order soon.
- The police carried out a search of the building.
- It's important to carry out your promises.
- The government plans to carry out sweeping reforms to the education system.
- They carried out the complex surgery with great skill.
- The committee's recommendations have yet to be carried out in full.
- A rival faction carried out a clandestine operation to discredit the leadership.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CARRYING a task OUT of your to-do list and into the world of completion.
Conceptual Metaphor
TASKS ARE OBJECTS TO BE MOVED (from planning to completion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'выносить' (to take outside). The correct conceptual equivalents are 'выполнять', 'осуществлять', 'проводить' (research).
- Confusing 'carry out' with 'carry on' (продолжать).
- Overusing the synonym 'realize/realise' (which in English is чаще 'осознавать', not 'осуществлять').
Common Mistakes
- ~~Carry out of a task~~ (Correct: Carry out a task).
- Using 'make' instead of 'carry out' with formal procedures (~~make an investigation~~ -> carry out an investigation).
- Spelling the noun as one word (~~carryout~~ is acceptable, but hyphenated 'carry-out' is the standard dictionary form).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'carry out' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is less common. 'Carry the plan out' is possible but more formal/emphatic than 'carry out the plan'. The non-separated form is the default.
'Carry out' means to perform/complete. 'Carry on' means to continue ('Carry on with your work') or to behave emotionally ('Don't carry on like that!').
No, not directly. You carry out a task, not a person. You might 'carry a person out' of a building, but that is the literal verb 'carry' + adverb 'out', not the phrasal verb 'carry out'.
In meaning, yes, they both refer to prepared food bought to eat elsewhere. 'Takeout' is standard American English; 'takeaway' is standard British English. 'Carry-out' is a common regional variant in parts of the US and UK.