carry out
do or complete a task, plan, or experiment
What does "carry sth out" mean?
Examples
- The government carried out a nationwide survey on air quality.
- We had a plan, and we carried it out without any problems.
- A detailed investigation is being carried out by the police.
How to use it
The most common pattern — use it with nouns describing planned or organised activities.
The research team carried out a series of experiments last year.
When you replace the object with a pronoun, it must go between 'carry' and 'out'.
We had several tests to run and carried them out over two days.
Short noun objects can also go between 'carry' and 'out', though both positions work.
The engineers carried the inspection out ahead of schedule.
The passive form is very common, especially in reports, journalism, and academic writing.
A detailed survey was carried out by the health department last spring.
Use the continuous form to describe an activity that is in progress right now.
Investigators are currently carrying out a full review of the incident.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Carry out' sounds unnatural with everyday actions like homework or household chores. Use 'do' for those situations and save 'carry out' for more formal, organised activities.
When using a pronoun instead of a full noun, it must go between 'carry' and 'out'. Placing it after 'out' is always incorrect.
'Carry out' means to perform or complete a specific task. 'Carry on' means to continue doing something that is already in progress — the two are not interchangeable.
Usage
Neutral to formal; very common in academic writing, journalism, and official reports, often in the passive ('the study was carried out'). In casual speech, 'do' is usually more natural.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of things can I 'carry out'? Can I use any noun after it?
Not exactly — 'carry out' works best with nouns that describe planned, organised, or official activities, such as research, an investigation, a survey, an experiment, repairs, or duties. It sounds unnatural with casual everyday actions like chores or personal errands, where 'do' is the better choice.
Is 'carry out' more British or American English?
'Carry out' is used in both British and American English, but it is slightly more common in everyday British usage. In American formal writing, you might see 'conduct' or 'perform' instead (for example, 'conduct a study'). In general, 'carry out' is widely understood and accepted in both varieties.
Can I use 'carry out' in formal writing or academic essays?
Yes — in fact, 'carry out' is very common in academic, scientific, and journalistic writing. You will regularly see phrases like 'the study was carried out' or 'researchers carried out an experiment' in formal texts. It is one of the few phrasal verbs that fits comfortably in formal writing.
Is the passive form 'was carried out' really that common?
Yes, the passive is extremely frequent with this phrasal verb, especially in reports, news articles, and academic papers. Phrases like 'the investigation was carried out' or 'tests are being carried out' appear constantly in formal English, so it is very useful to practise this form.
Does 'carry out' always mean performing a task, or does it have other meanings?
This sense focuses on performing or completing a specific activity like research, a test, or an inspection. There is also a literal meaning — physically carrying something to an outside location — but context makes it clear which is meant. The platform covers each sense separately.
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