Carry out meaning
Carry out means to do a planned piece of work, like a test, study or repair. It can also mean to do what you said you would do, or what you were told to do.
carry something out
carry out · carried · carrying
The hospital is carrying out tests on the new drug.
Carry out meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary.
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1
Do a planned piece of work, like a test, study or repair
carry something out
- The hospital is carrying out tests on the new drug.
- Workers will carry out repairs on the bridge next week.
- We planned a customer survey, but we never carried it out.
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2
Do what you said you would do, or what you were told to do
carry somebody or something out
- The soldiers carried out their orders without question.
- She carried out her promise and paid back every euro.
- If he says he’ll do it, he’ll carry it out.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use carry out in real conversations
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Is carry out separable?
Carry out is separable, but with a noun the object usually comes after: carry out a test. With a pronoun, it must go in the middle: carry it out.
Carry out is common in the passive in reports: The work was carried out by a local company. It is a bit formal; in speech, people often just say do.
Verb tenses for carry out
| Present | I carry out · she carries out |
|---|---|
| Past | carried out |
| Present perfect | have carried out |
| -ing form | carrying out |
Common mistakes with carry out
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: We have a plan, and now we must carry out it.
Right: We have a plan, and now we must carry it out.
A pronoun goes between carry and out.
Wrong: They carried out to test the water.
Right: They carried out a test on the water.
Carry out needs a noun, not to + verb.
Wrong: The research was carried by a team from Oslo.
Right: The research was carried out by a team from Oslo.
Do not drop out; carried alone means moved in your arms.
Synonyms and opposites of carry out
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- conductformal, carry out research or an interview
- performdo a task, operation or test
- follow updo more after something to check or continue it
Opposite
- abandonstop a plan before it is finished
- call offcancel a planned event or activity
Carry out quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1The police will ___ a full search of the area.
Carry out a search means do it.
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2Choose the right sentence.
A pronoun goes in the middle: carried them out.
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3“The government failed to carry out its promises.” What happened?
Carry out a promise means do what you promised.
More phrasal verbs with carry
2 phrasal verbs start with carry. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Carry out FAQ
Questions people ask about carry out.
Is carry out formal?
It is a little formal and very common in reports, news and science: Tests were carried out. In speech, do often sounds more natural.
What is carry-out food?
In US English, carry-out means food you buy at a restaurant to eat somewhere else. UK English says takeaway.
What is the difference between carry out and carry on?
Carry out a job means do it. Carry on means continue: Carry on with your job.
Use carry out in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.