From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcarry something ↔ out phrasal verb1 DO something/TAKE ACTIONto do something that needs to be organized and planned We need to carry out more research. A survey is now being carried out nationwide. Turn off the water supply before carrying out repairs.RegisterIn written English, people often use conduct when writing about research, experiments etc, because this sounds more formal than carry out:They conducted experiments to test this theory.2 DO something/TAKE ACTIONto do something that you have said you will do or that someone has asked you to do Nicholson didn’t carry out his threat to take legal action. We carried out her instructions precisely. Will the government carry out its promise to reform the law?COLLOCATIONSnounscarry out workYou’ll have to get a builder to carry out the work.carry out your duties/responsibilitiesShe carried out her duties very efficiently.carry out a task/jobHe was unable to carry out simple tasks.carry out researchI was in Italy carrying out research for my book.carry out a surveyThe committee has carried out a survey of parking problems in residential areas.carry out a checkManufacturers carry out safety checks on all new cars.carry out a testForensic experts are now carrying out DNA tests.carry out an experimentMany schools need better facilities for carrying out scientific experiments.carry out a reviewThe government is carrying out a review of state pension provision.carry out a studyHe has carried out various studies into violent behaviour.carry out an investigationThe police will carry out an investigation into what actually happened.carry out an inquiryA formal inquiry into the cause of death will be carried out.carry out an assessmentThe company is carrying out an assessment of staff training needs.carry out a searchHere are some more ways of carrying out information searches online.carry out an attackIt became clear that terrorists had carried out the attack. → carry→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
carry out ... threat• Intensive negotiations are under way to try to prevent Mr Trimble from carrying out his threat.• There was no way to prevent White from carrying out his threat of f6.• Charles wondered if Alex Household had carried out his threat of feeding the wrong lines.• If Walden carries out his threat, the Tory government would fall, leading to a general election.• Whether companies would carry out their threat to emigrate is debatable, with the huge costs that it would entail.• Maybe she ought to have carried out her threat to go to the police.• There was nothing to stop the guy carrying out his threat to put the husband wise about Laura's past.• Accordingly, on Oct. 22, Bush carried out his threat to veto the bill.carry-outˈcarry-out noun [countable] DL especially American English food that you can take away from a restaurant to eat somewhere else, or a restaurant that sells food like this SYN takeaway British EnglishExamples from the Corpus
carry-out• He came out of a side door, clutching a carry-out. 