carry through: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “carry through” mean?
To complete something successfully or to ensure its completion despite difficulties.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To complete something successfully or to ensure its completion despite difficulties.
To persist with an action, plan, or project until its conclusion; to support someone emotionally or practically through a challenging time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slight preference for 'see through' or 'follow through' in some US contexts.
Connotations
Both varieties share the connotations of diligence and completion.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “carry through” in a Sentence
carry [sth] throughcarry [sth] through to completioncarry through on [sth]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carry through” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government pledged to carry the legislation through Parliament.
- Her enthusiasm carried her through the difficult training.
American English
- The team carried the project through despite budget cuts.
- His faith carried him through the recovery.
adjective
British English
- A carry-through effect was observed in the subsequent quarter.
American English
- The carry-through provision was key to the contract.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"We need your leadership to carry these restructuring plans through."
Academic
"The researcher carried her initial hypothesis through to a robust conclusion."
Everyday
"He was ill, but sheer determination carried him through the marathon."
Technical
"The engineer carried the safety modifications through on all production models."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carry through”
- Confusing 'carry through' with 'carry out' (the latter focuses more on execution than completion). Using 'carry it on' instead of 'carry it through' (which implies continuation, not conclusion).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Carry out' means to perform or execute a task. 'Carry through' emphasises completing it, especially through obstacles ('We carried out the survey, but budget issues stopped us carrying it through to the final report').
Yes, e.g., 'The messages of support carried me through my illness.' It implies providing the strength needed to endure a period.
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'carry the plan through' or 'carry through the plan.'
It can be used transitively without a preposition ('carry through a plan'). 'On' is sometimes used ('carry through on a promise'). 'To completion' is a common complement.
To complete something successfully or to ensure its completion despite difficulties.
Carry through is usually neutral to formal in register.
Carry through: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkær.i θruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkær.i θruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “carry through to the bitter end”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine CARRYING a heavy box THROUGH a long tunnel to the other side—completing the journey despite the difficulty.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETING A JOURNEY IS CARRYING SOMETHING THROUGH.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'carry through' most strongly imply?