carry forward
Britishverb
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accounting to transfer (a balance) to the next page, column, etc
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Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): carry over. tax accounting to apply (a legally permitted credit, esp an operating loss) to the taxable income of following years to ease the overall tax burden
noun
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Also, carry over . Transfer a bookkeeping entry to the next column, page, another account, or the next accounting period, as in Let's carry forward this loss to the next quarter for a saving in taxes , or She made an error in carrying over this column . The first term dates from the first half of the 1800s; the variant dates from the mid-1700s.
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Make progress in, advance, as in His successor hoped to carry forward his work . Also see carry on .
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.
What I carry forward more than that fancy feeling are the memories my family created as we were seated, together, around the table.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
Another multiyear situation to manage is any losses that can carry forward, like rental losses or capital losses.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026
"We want to carry forward a process of normalisation with Azerbaijan," the source said, adding: "Among the disagreements between our two countries is the fate of Martin Ryan."
From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026
And that seems to be what those behind Sundance most want to uphold and carry forward: a commitment to providing a spotlight for new voices.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2025
This was the message we needed to carry forward.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
