Carry out
phrasal verb
3rd person singular: carries out, present participle: carrying out, past/past participle: carried out
Definition
1. To do, perform, or complete a task, plan, or instruction.
2. To conduct an investigation, experiment, or study.
3. To fulfill a duty, promise, or threat.
4. (noun, mainly American) food prepared at a restaurant to be eaten elsewhere.
2. To conduct an investigation, experiment, or study.
3. To fulfill a duty, promise, or threat.
4. (noun, mainly American) food prepared at a restaurant to be eaten elsewhere.
Context Alive
The construction company had spent months planning every detail of the bridge renovation, from materials to safety protocols to traffic management. When the day finally arrived, the workers began to carry out the carefully designed plan with impressive precision, coordinating their movements like a well-rehearsed orchestra and completing each phase exactly on schedule while curious drivers watched from the temporary detour route.
Meanings
6 meanings
1
To do or complete a task, plan, or order — VERY COMMON
Common
▼
This is the most frequent way you’ll encounter carry out. It means to actually do something that was planned, ordered, or intended. When your boss gives you instructions, you carry them out. When a company announces a strategy, employees carry it out. When soldiers receive orders, they carry them out. The phrase emphasizes the doing — turning plans, ideas, or commands into real action and seeing them through to completion.
Vivid ExampleThe event coordinator managed to carry out every single detail of the wedding exactly as the bride had envisioned, from the specific shade of the napkins to the timing of the fireworks, leaving the newlyweds in tears of joy at how perfect their special day had turned out.
2
To conduct research, experiments, or investigations — VERY COMMON
Common
▼
In academic, scientific, and professional contexts, carry out is the standard phrase for conducting studies, experiments, surveys, or investigations. Scientists carry out research. Police carry out investigations. Companies carry out market surveys. You’ll see this constantly in news articles, academic papers, and official reports. It sounds more formal than “do” and emphasizes the systematic, thorough nature of the work.
Vivid ExampleThe medical team decided to carry out extensive clinical trials before releasing the new medication to the public, testing it on thousands of volunteers over three years to ensure it was both safe and effective for patients of all ages.
3
To fulfill a duty, promise, or responsibility — COMMON
Common
▼
When someone carries out their duties or promises, they fulfill them — they do what they committed to do. A doctor carries out their responsibility to patients. A parent carries out their obligations to their children. A politician might fail to carry out campaign promises. This usage highlights commitment and follow-through on moral or professional responsibilities.
Vivid ExampleDespite facing enormous pressure to cut corners and save money, the engineer refused to compromise and continued to carry out her professional duty to ensure the building met every safety standard, knowing that people’s lives depended on her integrity.
4
To execute a threat or attack — COMMON
Common
▼
Unfortunately, carry out is often used in news reports about negative actions being executed. Criminals carry out robberies. Terrorists carry out attacks. Someone might carry out a threat they previously made. The phrase emphasizes that the action moved from intention to reality — the threat wasn’t empty; it was actually done.
Vivid ExampleAfter weeks of threatening to expose the company’s secrets, the disgruntled former employee finally carried out his warning by releasing confidential documents to journalists, causing a scandal that dominated headlines for the entire month and resulted in multiple executives losing their positions.
5
Food to take away (Noun — American English) — COMMON
Common
▼
In American English, carry-out (often hyphenated or written as one word) refers to food you order at a restaurant but take home to eat rather than dining in. It’s similar to “takeout” or “takeaway.” You might call a Chinese restaurant for carry-out. A pizza place might advertise “Carry-out special: $9.99.” This usage is mainly American — British speakers typically say “takeaway.”
Vivid ExampleToo exhausted to cook after the long workday, she called her favorite Thai restaurant and ordered carry-out for dinner, picking up the steaming bags of pad thai and spring rolls on her drive home and eating straight from the containers while watching her favorite show on the couch.
6
To physically transport something outside — LESS COMMON
Common
▼
In its most literal sense, carry out simply means to pick something up and take it outside or out of a place. You might carry out boxes from a building. Movers carry out furniture. This meaning is straightforward and physical, though less frequently used than the figurative meanings above.
Vivid ExampleThe firefighters worked quickly to carry out as many valuable items as possible from the burning house, rescuing photo albums, laptops, and important documents while the family watched nervously from across the street, grateful for every saved possession.
Examples from the Street
“We need to carry out more research before making a decision.”
We need to do more investigation before we decide
“The builders carried out the work exactly as planned.”
The builders completed the job precisely as agreed
“He never carries out his promises.”
He never actually does what he says he’ll do
Common Patterns
carry out research/a study/an investigation → conduct research or formal inquiry
carry out a task/job/duty → perform work or responsibilities
carry out a plan/order/instruction → execute what was planned or commanded
carry out work/repairs/maintenance → do physical or practical work
carry out a promise/threat → actually do what you promised or threatened
carry out an attack/operation → execute a military or planned action
carry out tests/experiments → conduct scientific procedures
carry out an audit/inspection/review → perform an official examination
carry out surgery/a procedure → perform medical operations
carry out someone’s wishes → do what someone wanted (often after death)
Collocations
4 collocationscarry out a plan
put a plan into action
carry out research
conduct a study or investigation
carry out orders
follow instructions given to you
carry out a task
complete an assigned job
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
Scientists carried out research on the effects of social media on teenagers
Researchers conducted a study about how online platforms affect young people.
2
The government failed to carry out its election promises
The people in power didn’t actually do what they said they would during the campaign.
3
The police are carrying out an investigation into the robbery
The officers are conducting an inquiry into the theft.
4
He finally carried out his threat to quit
He actually did what he’d been warning he would do and left his job.
5
The builders will carry out repairs next week
The construction workers will do the fixing work starting Monday.
6
Nurses carry out many essential tasks that doctors don’t have time for
Medical staff perform lots of important jobs that physicians are too busy to do.
7
The company carried out a customer satisfaction survey
The business conducted a questionnaire asking clients how happy they were.
8
Soldiers must carry out orders even if they disagree
Military personnel have to do what they’re told even when they don’t like it.
9
The surgeon carried out a complex heart operation
The doctor performed a difficult procedure on the patient’s heart.
10
Her children carried out her final wishes after she passed away
Her kids did exactly what she had asked for after she died.
Learner Examples
★
I always carry out a quick assessment at the start of the year to see what level my students are at
I always do a short evaluation when term begins to find out how advanced my learners are.
★
Students often make plans to study more, but few actually carry out those plans once the weekend comes
Learners frequently intend to revise harder, but most don’t actually follow through on those intentions when Saturday arrives.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
1 items
Phrasal Verbscarry through — complete despite difficulties
Despite all the setbacks, she carried the project through.
Synonyms & Antonyms
7 items
Synonymsexecute
doing a task or plan
perform
completing an action
do
general, getting something done
implement
putting a plan into action
Antonymsabandon
not completing
neglect
failing to do
skip
not doing something