carry out

Meaning

To perform, execute, or complete a task, plan, or piece of work. It is commonly used in professional contexts when discussing research, instructions, orders, or projects.

Examples

• The engineering team will carry out the safety tests first thing tomorrow morning.

  The engineering team will carry out the safety tests first thing tomorrow morning.

• We need to carry out a thorough market analysis before launching the new product.

  We need to carry out a thorough market analysis before launching the new product.

• The survey was carried out by an independent research agency last month.

  The survey was carried out by an independent research agency last month.

• It is crucial that we carry out the instructions exactly as they are written in the manual.

  It is crucial that we carry out the instructions exactly as they are written in the manual.

• The company decided to carry out a complete restructure of its marketing department.

  The company decided to carry out a complete restructure of its marketing department.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to carry out our promises.

  ✓ We need to keep our promises.

  While you carry out tasks, plans, or orders, you keep or fulfill promises.

• ✗ The manager carried out the meeting very well.

  ✓ The manager conducted the meeting very well.

  Meetings are conducted, run, or held, whereas carry out is reserved for actions, tasks, or research.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The laboratory is scheduled to ___ a series of experiments next week.

  💡 perform or conduct

  Show answer

  carry out

• It's easy to write a business plan, but much harder to ___ it ___ successfully.

  💡 execute (separable phrasal verb)

  Show answer

  carry out