carry and express share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. carry means “move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body”. express means “give expression to”. carry is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkæɹi/
1.v.move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
“You must carry your camping gear”
2.v.have with oneself; have on one's person
“She always takes an umbrella”
3.v.transmit or serve as the medium for transmission
“Sound carries well over water”
/ɪkˈspɹɛs/
1.v.give expression to
“She showed her disappointment”
2.v.articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
“She expressed her anger”
3.v.serve as a means for expressing something
“The painting of Mary carries motherly love”
| carry | express | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæɹi/ | /ɪkˈspɹɛs/ |
| Said | KAR-ee | ik-SPRES |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 5 | 7 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | verb, noun, adjective, adverb |
| Senses | 41 | 13 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | transport | show, evince |
Full entry for carry · Full entry for express · More comparisons