Carryout Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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carryout

[ˈkærɪˌaʊt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

food

To prepare and serve food for consumption outside the restaurant premises.

Synonyms

delivery, takeout, to-go.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
carryout	Also used to describe takeaway food, but more commonly in American English. Often used in everyday conversations. Let's get some carryout tonight, I don't feel like cooking. They have really good carryout pizza at that place.
takeout	Mostly used in American English to describe food that is picked up from a restaurant to be eaten elsewhere. Common in casual settings. I’ll grab some takeout on my way home from work. We often get takeout from the nearby Italian restaurant.
delivery	Used when food is brought to your home or another location by the restaurant's service. Suitable for any context, casual or formal. We ordered pizza for delivery last night. Is there a delivery fee if we order Chinese food?
to-go	Used in American English to indicate that food is packaged for consumption outside the restaurant. Informal and often used in quick service places. Can I get a burger and fries to-go, please? They have a great menu of to-go options.

Examples of usage

We offer carryout service for customers who prefer to enjoy our food at home.
You can order online and pick up your carryout order in 20 minutes.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

business

An order for food that is prepared and served for consumption outside the restaurant premises.

Synonyms

delivery order, takeout order, to-go order.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
carryout	Used primarily in Midwestern parts of the United States to refer to food that is ordered from a restaurant and taken away to be eaten elsewhere. I decided to get a pizza for carryout after work. The restaurant offers carryout for those who prefer to eat at home.
takeout order	Common in North America, referring to food that is ordered and picked up by the customer to eat elsewhere. I placed a takeout order for sushi. The takeout order was ready when I arrived at the restaurant.
to-go order	Commonly used in the United States to describe food that is ordered to be packaged and taken away to eat, often when someone is in a rush or doesn't want to dine in. Let's get our meals as a to-go order and eat at the park. I ordered a burger to-go because I was in a hurry.
delivery order	Used when food is ordered to be delivered to a specified location, usually a customer’s home or office, instead of being eaten in the restaurant. I placed a delivery order for Chinese food. Our pizza delivery order should arrive in 30 minutes.

Examples of usage

I placed a carryout for lunch from the deli down the street.
The carryout was ready for pick up at the designated time.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'carryout'

The term 'carryout' originated in the United States in the mid-20th century as a convenient way for customers to enjoy restaurant food at home. It quickly became popular due to its convenience and has since been widely adopted in the food service industry.

See also: carrier, carriers, carry, carryall, carrying.