carry forward

British  

verb

1. accounting to transfer (a balance) to the next page, column, etc

2. 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

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noun

1. Also called: carry-over.  tax accounting an amount carried forward

carry forward Idioms  

1. 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.

2. Make progress in, advance, as in His successor hoped to carry forward his work . Also see carry on .

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Example Sentences

Xi said at the time that he would work with To Lam to "carry forward the traditional friendship" between the two socialist neighbours.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 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

Prime Minister Peres surged to a huge lead in the polls while pledging to carry forward Rabin’s legacy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

More than anything, I hoped this was what they’d carry forward into the future—the ease, the sense of community, the encouragement to speak and be heard.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• carry over