1 A2 neutral
To perform or complete a task, duty, or assignment as required.
"The soldiers carried out their orders without question."
separable
carry out
A2 neutral separable transitive
To perform, execute, or complete a task, plan, duty, or instruction.
In plain English
To do something that was planned or instructed, from start to finish.
What does "carry out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To conduct an investigation, experiment, or piece of research.
"Scientists carried out a series of tests to determine the cause of the outbreak."
separable
3 B1 neutral
To put a plan, idea, or threat into action.
"He threatened to resign, but nobody believed he would actually carry it out."
separable
Usage tip
One of the most common phrasal verbs in academic and formal writing. Used in scientific, military, legal, and everyday contexts. The object typically refers to a plan, task, experiment, instruction, or threat.
Words that pair with "carry out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
task experiment instructions threat research plan
How to conjugate "carry out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
carry out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
carries out
he/she/it
Past simple
carried out
yesterday
Past participle
carried out
have + pp
-ing form
carrying out
continuous
Hear "carry out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "carry out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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