carry over

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"carry-over" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“carry over” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see carry, over.

Key facts for carry over
PropertyValue
Headwordcarry over
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “carry over” sits in English frequency

carry over falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for carry over is 10 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for carry over, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Attested since the 17th century; listed for instance in Elisha Coles' 1676 dictionary as a translation of transfer, thereby possibly a calque of Latin transfero; compare Dutch overdragen, German übertragen. The correct English form is carry over, spelled C-A-R-R-Y- -O-V-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see carry, over.
  2. 2
    To transfer (something) to a later point in time.
  3. 3
    To carry; to transfer an excess quantity to the next column of digits.
  4. 4
    To continue cooking after being removed from a heat source.
  5. 5
    To transfer.
  6. 6
    To induce to join an opposing party or faction.

Etymology

Attested since the 17th century; listed for instance in Elisha Coles' 1676 dictionary as a translation of transfer, thereby possibly a calque of Latin transfero; compare Dutch overdragen, German übertragen.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "carry over"?
"carry over" is spelled C-A-R-R-Y- -O-V-E-R.
What does "carry over" mean?
As a verb, "carry over" means: Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see carry, over.
What is the origin of the word "carry over"?
Attested since the 17th century; listed for instance in Elisha Coles' 1676 dictionary as a translation of transfer, thereby possibly a calque of Latin transfero; compare Dutch overdragen, German übertragen. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “carry over”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-R-R-Y- -O-V-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list