1. to do something over a period of time. (Compare this with carry on (with something.) Do you think you can carry this on for a year? I will carry on this activity for three years if you want.
2. to continue to do something as a tradition. We intend to carry this celebration on as long as the family can gather for the holidays. We will carry on this tradition for decades, in fact.
3. Go to carry something onto something.
carry on
to behave badly or mischievously. The children always carry on when the teacher's out of the room. Stop carrying on and go to sleep!
carry on (with something)
to continue doing something. (Compare this with carry something on.)
Please carry on with your singing. Tom carried on with his boring speech for twenty minutes.
