carry off

verb

carried off; carrying off; carries off

transitive verb

1
: to cause the death of
the plague carried off thousands
2
: to perform or manage successfully : bring off
tried to look suave but couldn't carry it off

Examples of carry off in a Sentence

the con artist would never have been able to carry off his schemes if it were not for the greed of his eager victims pray that the pestilence does not carry off any more souls than it already has
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Helene roared through the building’s lower level, carrying off freezers, the walk-in cooler, thousands of dollars worth of Christmas decorations, and even the walls. Hanna Raskin, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2025 Ayden Heaven’s promising seven days in the starting line-up were cut short by a concerning injury that led to him being carried off on a stretcher in the 51st minute. Carl Anka, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025 Unable to vent their rage directly against Stevens’ person, Rebel soldiers settled for burning his furnace to the ground and carrying off the materials, provisions and animals needed to operate it. Robert Colby, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025 She was carried off the court midway through the fourth quarter with a leg injury. The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for carry off

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of carry off was circa 1640

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carry off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carry%20off. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!