carry-on

American  

[kar-ee-on, -awn] / ˈkær iˌɒn, -ˌɔn /

adjective

1. of a size and shape suitable for being carried onto and stowed in the passenger compartment of an airplane.

   carry-on luggage.

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noun

1. a piece of carry-on luggage.

carry on British  

verb

1. (intr) to continue or persevere

   we must carry on in spite of our difficulties

2. (tr) to manage or conduct

   to carry on a business

3. informal to have an affair

4. informal (intr) to cause a fuss or commotion

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noun

1. informal a fuss or commotion

adjective

1. (of luggage) to be taken inside an aircraft by hand personally by a passenger

carry on Idioms  

1. Maintain, conduct, as in The villagers carried on a thriving trade , or They carried on a torrid love affair . [c. 1600]

2. Continue or progress, persevere, as in I'm sure you can carry on without me . [Mid-1600s]

3. Behave in an excited, improper, or silly manner, as in They laughed and sang and carried on rather noisily . [Early 1800s]

4. Flirt, engage in an illicit love affair, as in She accused her friend of carrying on with her husband . [Early 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of carry-on

First recorded in 1950–55; adj., noun use of verb phrase carry on

Example Sentences

Soon after the carry-on incident, Scott saw an advert for an experimental gene therapy from a biotech startup called Minicircle and quickly signed up.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

To avoid a bill for carry-on luggage, Laura Anne is "really ruthless" with her packing.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

So, what’s a traveler who’s stymied by the fact that they don’t qualify for those higher tiers and may miss out on getting that coveted bin space for their carry-on to do?

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

At the end of the exhibition, visitors reach a sales floor displaying Louis Vuitton carry-on luggage that start at more than $3,000 and metal-finished trunks priced in the tens of thousands of dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

The business plan for a community development nonprofit is nestled in my carry-on briefcase, alongside a photo of that sneaker and its jumble of shoelace.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer

Related Words

• continue