carry weight

Idioms

Also,. Exert influence, authority, or persuasion, as in No matter what the President says, his words always carry weight. Shakespeare combined two of these expressions in Henry VIII (3:2): “Words cannot carry authority so weighty.” [c. 1600]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Does any of that historical power for both the Continent and Japan carry weight when it comes to stocks?

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

While the ICJ cannot prosecute individuals for crimes of the utmost severity, such as genocide, its opinions carry weight with the UN and other international institutions.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

But the alliances still carry weight for Maduro’s regime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 29, 2025

They are controversial because they carry weight, demand change and acknowledge lived realities.

From Salon • May 3, 2025

Patria is the oldest, and so in Mama’s absence, her words carry weight.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023