Carry vs. Convey — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on December 11, 2023
"Carry" means to hold or support while moving; "Convey" means to transport or communicate a message. Both involve transfer, but differ in method and context.
Difference Between Carry and Convey
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Carry" is a verb that primarily implies the physical act of holding and moving an object from one place to another. For instance, you might carry groceries from the store to your car. In contrast, "Convey" has a broader implication, suggesting the idea of transporting or transferring, which can be physical, as in conveying water through pipes, or abstract, like conveying emotions through words.
While "Carry" is often used to describe the act of holding something in one's hands, arms, or on one's back, "Convey" can extend to the idea of communicating sentiments, intentions, or ideas. A person can carry a tune or carry themselves well, but they convey a message or convey their regards.
Another distinction lies in the means of transfer. "Carry" typically doesn't specify the means—it's more about the act itself. You can carry something by walking, driving, or even flying. "Convey", on the other hand, often implies a mechanism or medium, be it a conveyor belt, a gesture, or spoken words.
Furthermore, "Carry" can also be used in figurative contexts, like carrying a sense of guilt or carrying a story forward. "Convey", while also versatile, leans more towards the transmission of information or sentiments. It's about making something known or transferring it from one entity or place to another.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Verb
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Primary Meaning
To hold and move from one place to another
To transport or communicate
Implication
Physical holding or bearing
Transmission or transportation
Contextual Usage
Often about personal act of holding and moving
Implies a mechanism or medium of transfer
Broader Meanings
Can be figurative, like carrying a feeling
More about transmitting information or sentiments
Compare with Definitions
Carry
To hold something while moving it somewhere.
She decided to carry the box upstairs.
Convey
To transport or carry to a place.
The pipes convey water to the houses.
Carry
To support the weight of.
The bridge can carry heavy trucks.
Convey
To transfer or deliver (something) to another.
The title to the property was conveyed to the new owner.
Carry
To continue or extend in a certain direction.
The road carries on for another mile.
Convey
To make known or communicate.
He conveyed his intentions clearly.
Carry
To hold or support while moving; bear
Carried the baby in my arms.
Carrying a heavy backpack.
Convey
To serve as a medium for expression.
Music can convey deep emotions.
Carry
To move or take from one place to another; transport
A train carrying freight.
A courier carrying messages.
Convey
To take or carry from one place to another; transport.
Carry
Chiefly Southern US To escort or accompany.
Convey
To serve as a medium of transmission for; transmit
Wires that convey electricity.
Carry
To serve as a means for the conveyance of; transmit
Pipes that carry waste water.
A bridge that carries traffic between the two cities.
Convey
To communicate or make known; impart
"a look intended to convey sympathetic comprehension" (Saki).
Carry
To communicate; pass on
The news was carried by word of mouth to every settlement.
Convey
(Law) To transfer ownership of or title to.
Carry
To express or contain
Harsh words that carried a threat of violence.
Convey
(Archaic) To steal.
Carry
To have (something) on the surface or skin; bear
Carries scars from acne.
Convey
To move (something) from one place to another.
Air conveys sound. Water is conveyed through the pipe.
Carry
To hold or be capable of holding
The tank carries 16 gallons when full.
Convey
(dated) To take or carry (someone) from one place to another.
Carry
To support (a weight or responsibility).
Convey
To communicate; to make known; to portray.
To convey an impression; to convey information
Carry
To support the weight or responsibility of
A beam that carries the floor.
A student who carries a heavy course load.
Convey
(legal) To transfer legal rights (to).
He conveyed ownership of the company to his daughter.
Carry
To keep or have on one's person
Stopped carrying credit cards.
Convey
(obsolete) To manage with privacy; to carry out.
Carry
To be pregnant with (offspring).
Convey
(obsolete) To carry or take away secretly; to steal; to thieve.
Carry
To hold and move (the body or a part of it) in a particular way
Carried her head proudly.
Convey
To carry from one place to another; to bear or transport.
I will convey them by sea in floats.
Convey me to my bed, then to my grave.
Carry
To behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified manner.
Convey
To cause to pass from one place or person to another; to serve as a medium in carrying (anything) from one place or person to another; to transmit; as, air conveys sound; words convey ideas.
Carry
To extend or continue in space, time, or degree
Carried the line to the edge of the page.
Carry a joke too far.
Convey
To transfer or deliver to another; to make over, as property; more strictly (Law), to transfer (real estate) or pass (a title to real estate) by a sealed writing.
The Earl of Desmond . . . secretly conveyed all his lands to feoffees in trust.
Carry
To give impetus to; propel
The wind carried the ball over the fence.
Convey
To impart or communicate; as, to convey an impression; to convey information.
Men fill one another's heads with noise and sound, but convey not thereby their thoughts.
Carry
To take further; advance
Carry a cause.
Convey
To manage with privacy; to carry out.
I . . . will convey the business as I shall find means.
Carry
To take or seize, especially by force; capture.
Convey
To carry or take away secretly; to steal; to thieve.
Carry
To be successful in; win
Lost the game but carried the match.
Convey
To accompany; to convoy.
Carry
To gain victory, support, or acceptance for
The motion was carried in a close vote.
Convey
To play the thief; to steal.
But as I am Crack, I will convey, crossbite, and cheat upon Simplicius.
Carry
To win a majority of the votes in
Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
Convey
Make known; pass on, of information
Carry
To gain the sympathy of; win over
The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
Convey
Serve as a means for expressing something;
The painting of Mary carries motherly love
His voice carried a lot af anger
Carry
To include or keep on a list
Carried a dozen workers on the payroll.
Convey
Transfer to another;
Communicate a disease
Carry
To have as an attribute or accompaniment
An appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
Convey
Transmit a title or property
Carry
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect
The crime carried a five-year sentence.
Convey
Transmit or serve as the medium for transmission;
Sound carries well over water
The airwaves carry the sound
Many metals conduct heat
Carry
(Physics) To possess (an intrinsic property, such as color charge) or convey (a force) that governs particle interactions.
Convey
Take something or somebody with oneself somewhere;
Bring me the box from the other room
Take these letters to the boss
This brings me to the main point
Carry
To transfer from one place, as a column, page, or book, to another
Carry a number in addition.
Convey
Go or come after and bring or take back;
Get me those books over there, please
Could you bring the wine?
The dog fetched the hat
Carry
To keep in stock; offer for sale
A store that carries a full line of electronic equipment.
Convey
To lead or guide.
The path conveys you through the forest.
Carry
To keep in one's accounts as a debtor
Carried the unemployed customer for 90 days.
Carry
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
Carry
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
Carry
To place before the public; print or broadcast
The morning papers carried the story. The press conference was carried by all networks.
Carry
To produce as a crop.
Carry
To provide forage for (livestock)
Land that carries sheep.
Carry
To sing (a melody, for example) on key
Carry a tune.
Carry
(Nautical) To be equipped with (a mast or sail).
Carry
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
Carry
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Carry
(Basketball) To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
Carry
To act as a bearer
Teach a dog to fetch and carry.
Carry
To be transmitted or conveyed
A voice that carries well.
Carry
To admit of being transported
Unbalanced loads do not carry easily.
Carry
To hold the neck and head in a certain way. Used of a horse.
Carry
To be accepted or approved
The proposal carried by a wide margin.
Carry
The act or process of carrying.
Carry
A portage, as between two navigable bodies of water.
Carry
(Football) An act of running with the ball on an offensive play from scrimmage
A carry of six yards.
Carry
The range of a gun or projectile.
Carry
The distance traveled by a hurled or struck ball.
Carry
Reach; projection
"a voice that had far more carry to it than at any time in the term thus far" (Jimmy Breslin).
Carry
(transitive) To lift (something) and take it to another place; to transport (something) by lifting.
Carry
(transitive) To notionally transfer from one place (such as a country, book, or column) to another.
To carry the war from Greece into Asia
To carry an account to the ledger
Carry
(transitive) To convey by extension or continuance; to extend.
The builders are going to carry the chimney through {{the roof.
}} They would have carried the road ten miles further, but ran out of materials.
Carry
To move; to convey using force
Carry
(transitive) To lead or guide.
Carry
(transitive) To stock or supply (something); to have in store.
The corner drugstore doesn't carry his favorite brand of aspirin.
Carry
(transitive) To adopt (something); take (something) over.
I think I can carry Smith's work while she is out.
Carry
(transitive) To adopt or resolve on, especially in a deliberative assembly
The court carries that motion.
Carry
In an addition, to transfer the quantity in excess of what is countable in the units in a column to the column immediately to the left in order to be added there.
Five and nine are fourteen; carry the one to the tens place.
Carry
(transitive) To have, hold, possess or maintain (something).
Always carry sufficient insurance to protect against a loss.
Carry
(intransitive) To be transmitted; to travel.
The sound of the bells carried for miles on the wind.
Carry
To insult, to diss.
Carry
To capture a ship by coming alongside and boarding.
Carry
To transport (the ball) whilst maintaining possession.
Carry
(transitive) To have on one's person.
She always carries a purse;
Marsupials carry their young in a pouch
Carry
To be pregnant (with).
The doctor said she's carrying twins.
Carry
To have propulsive power; to propel.
A gun or mortar carries well.
Carry
To hold the head; said of a horse.
To carry well, i.e. to hold the head high, with arching neck
Carry
(hunting) To have earth or frost stick to the feet when running, as a hare.
Carry
To bear or uphold successfully through conflict, for example a leader or principle
Carry
To succeed in (e.g. a contest); to succeed in; to win.
The Tories carried the election.
Carry
(obsolete) To get possession of by force; to capture.
Carry
To contain; to comprise; have a particular aspect; to show or exhibit
Carry
(reflexive) To bear (oneself); to behave or conduct.
Carry
To bear the charges or burden of holding or having, as stocks, merchandise, etc., from one time to another.
A merchant is carrying a large stock;
A farm carries {{a mortgage;
}} a broker carries stock for {{a customer;
}} to carry a life insurance.
Carry
(intransitive) To have a weapon on one's person; to be armed.
Carry
(gaming) To be disproportionately responsible for a team's success.
He absolutely carried the game, to the point of killing the entire enemy team by himself.
Carry
(Southern US) to physically transport (in the general sense, not necessarily by lifting)
Will you carry me to town?
Carry
(North America) To bear a firearm, such as a gun.
A holster can help you carry in confidence, knowing that your weapon is secure and close at hand.
Carry
A manner of transporting or lifting something; the grip or position in which something is carried.
Adjust your carry from time to time so that you don't tire too quickly.
Carry
A tract of land over which boats or goods are carried between two bodies of navigable water; a portage.
Carry
(computing) The bit or digit that is carried in an addition operation.
Carry
(finance) The benefit or cost of owning an asset over time.
The carry on this trade is 25 basis points per annum.
Carry
(golf) The distance travelled by the ball when struck, until it hits the ground.
Carry
(finance) Carried interest.
Carry
The sky; cloud-drift.
Carry
To convey or transport in any manner from one place to another; to bear; - often with away or off.
When he dieth he shall carry nothing away.
Devout men carried Stephen to his burial.
Another carried the intelligence to Russell.
The sound will be carried, at the least, twenty miles.
Carry
To have or hold as a burden, while moving from place to place; to have upon or about one's person; to bear; as, to carry a wound; to carry an unborn child.
If the ideas . . . were carried along with us in our minds.
Carry
To move; to convey by force; to impel; to conduct; to lead or guide.
Go, carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet.
He carried away all his cattle.
Passion and revenge will carry them too far.
Carry
To transfer from one place (as a country, book, or column) to another; as, to carry the war from Greece into Asia; to carry an account to the ledger; to carry a number in adding figures.
Carry
To convey by extension or continuance; to extend; as, to carry the chimney through the roof; to carry a road ten miles farther.
Carry
To bear or uphold successfully through conflict, as a leader or principle; hence, to succeed in, as in a contest; to bring to a successful issue; to win; as, to carry an election.
The carrying of our main point.
Carry
To get possession of by force; to capture.
The town would have been carried in the end.
Carry
To contain; to comprise; to bear the aspect of ; to show or exhibit; to imply.
He thought it carried something of argument in it.
It carries too great an imputation of ignorance.
Carry
To bear (one's self); to behave, to conduct or demean; - with the reflexive pronouns.
He carried himself so insolently in the house, and out of the house, to all persons, that he became odious.
Carry
To bear the charges or burden of holding or having, as stocks, merchandise, etc., from one time to another; as, a merchant is carrying a large stock; a farm carries a mortgage; a broker carries stock for a customer; to carry a life insurance.
Carry
To act as a bearer; to convey anything; as, to fetch and carry.
Carry
To have propulsive power; to propel; as, a gun or mortar carries well.
Carry
To hold the head; - said of a horse; as, to carry well i. e., to hold the head high, with arching neck.
Carry
To have earth or frost stick to the feet when running, as a hare.
Carry
A tract of land, over which boats or goods are carried between two bodies of navigable water; a carrying place; a portage.
Carry
The act of carrying something
Carry
Move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body;
You must carry your camping gear
Carry the suitcases to the car
This train is carrying nuclear waste
These pipes carry waste water into the river
Carry
Have with oneself; have on one's person;
She always takes an umbrella
I always carry money
She packs a gun when she goes into the mountains
Carry
Transmit or serve as the medium for transmission;
Sound carries well over water
The airwaves carry the sound
Many metals conduct heat
Carry
Serve as a means for expressing something;
The painting of Mary carries motherly love
His voice carried a lot af anger
Carry
Bear or be able to bear the weight, pressure,or responsibility of;
His efforts carried the entire project
How many credits is this student carrying?
We carry a very large mortgage
Carry
Support or hold in a certain manner;
She holds her head high
He carried himself upright
Carry
Contain or hold; have within;
The jar carries wine
The canteen holds fresh water
This can contains water
Carry
Extend to a certain degree;
Carry too far
She carries her ideas to the extreme
Carry
Continue or extend;
The civil war carried into the neighboring province
The disease extended into the remote mountain provinces
Carry
Be necessarily associated with or result in or involve;
This crime carries a penalty of five years in prison
Carry
Win in an election;
The senator carried his home state
Carry
Include, as on a list;
How many people are carried on the payroll?
Carry
Behave in a certain manner;
She carried herself well
He bore himself with dignity
They conducted themselves well during these difficult times
Carry
Have on hand;
Do you carry kerosene heaters?
Carry
Include as the content; broadcast or publicize;
We ran the ad three times
This paper carries a restaurant review
All major networks carried the press conference
Carry
Propel,
Carry the ball
Dribble the ball
Carry
Pass on a communication;
The news was carried to every village in the province
Carry
Have as an inherent or characteristic feature or have as a consequence;
This new washer carries a two year guarantee
The loan carries a high interest rate
This undertaking carries many dangers
She carries her mother's genes
These bonds carry warrants
The restaurant carries an unusual name
Carry
Be conveyed over a certain distance;
Her voice carries very well in this big opera house
Carry
Keep up with financial support;
The Federal Government carried the province for many years
Carry
Have or possess something abstract;
I carry her image in my mind's eye
I will carry the secret to my grave
I carry these thoughts in the back of my head
I carry a lot of life insurance
Carry
Win approval or support for;
Carry all before one
His speech did not sway the voters
Carry
Compensate for a weaker partner or member by one's own performance;
I resent having to carry her all the time
Carry
Take further or advance;
Carry a cause
Carry
Have on the surface or on the skin;
Carry scars
Carry
Capture after a fight;
The troops carried the town after a brief fight
Carry
Transfer (entries) from one account book to another
Carry
Transfer (a number, cipher, or remainder) to the next column or unit's place before or after, in addition or multiplication;
Put down 5 and carry 2
Carry
Pursue a line of scent or be a bearer;
The dog was taught to fetch and carry
Carry
Bear (a crop);
This land does not carry olives
Carry
Propel or give impetus to;
The sudden gust of air propelled the ball to the other side of the fence
Carry
Drink alcohol without showing ill effects;
He can hold his liquor
He had drunk more than he could carry
Carry
Be able to feed;
This land will carry ten cows to the acre
Carry
Have a certain range;
This rifle carries for 3,000 feet
Carry
Cover a certain distance or advance beyond;
The drive carried to the green
Carry
Secure the passage or adoption (of bills and motions);
The motion carried easily
Carry
Be successful in;
She lost the game but carried the match
Carry
Sing or play against other voices or parts;
He cannot carry a tune
Carry
Be pregnant with;
She is bearing his child
The are expecting another child in January
I am carrying his child
Carry
To have or bear especially as a mark, attribute, or property.
The bag carries a lifetime warranty.
Carry
To be pregnant with.
She is carrying her third child.
Common Curiosities
Is "Convey" about physical movement only?
No, "Convey" can also refer to communicating ideas or sentiments.
How does "Convey" relate to communication?
"Convey" can mean to make an idea or feeling known to someone.
Can "Carry" be used in the context of pregnancy?
Yes, to "carry" a child means to be pregnant with the child.
Is "Carry" only about holding things in hands?
No, "Carry" can also refer to supporting weight or bearing a responsibility.
Does "Carry" have musical implications?
Yes, a person can "carry" a tune, meaning they can sing it correctly.
Can "Convey" refer to guidance?
Yes, for example, a path can "convey" you through an area, guiding you.
What does "Carry" primarily mean?
"Carry" primarily means to hold something and move it from one place to another.
Can "Carry" be used in non-physical contexts?
Yes, you can "carry" a feeling or responsibility, for instance.
How is "Convey" used in context with mediums?
A medium "conveys" by serving as a channel for communication or expression.
How does "Convey" differ in transportation context?
"Convey" often implies a mechanism or medium, like a conveyor belt or a letter.
Can "Convey" be used in legal contexts?
Yes, for instance, you can "convey" rights or property to someone.
How does "Carry" relate to attributes?
An item can "carry" an attribute, like a warranty or a mark.
Can "Carry" and "Convey" be used interchangeably?
Not always. While both involve transfer, they differ in method and context.
What's a figurative use of "Convey"?
Music can "convey" emotions, meaning it can express or evoke feelings.
Is "Carry" about short or long distances?
"Carry" doesn't specify distance; it's about the act of holding and moving.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
