What does "carey" mean?
A placename:; A hamlet in Ballingham parish and Little Dewchurch parish, Herefordshire, England (OS grid ref SO5631).
Carey
/ˈkɛəɹi/ name
name ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A placename:; A hamlet in Ballingham parish and Little Dewchurch parish, Herefordshire, England (OS grid ref SO5631).
- Grammar: carey is listed as name.
- Nearest alternatives: family name, forename, given name, last name.
- Useful contrasts: given name, surname.
- Usage evidence: Who has more fans, Celine Dion or Mariah Carey?
How to use "carey"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "carey" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "carey" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "carey" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "carey" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "carey" is acting as name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "family name" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "carey", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Proper Noun
- 1 A placename:; A hamlet in Ballingham parish and Little Dewchurch parish, Herefordshire, England (OS grid ref SO5631). countable, uncountable
- 2 A placename:; A place in the United States, including:; An unincorporated community in Greene County, Georgia. countable, uncountable
- 3 A placename:; A place in the United States, including:; A minor city in Blaine County, Idaho. countable, uncountable
- 4 A placename:; A place in the United States, including:; A village in Crawford Township, Wyandot County, Ohio. countable, uncountable
- 5 A placename:; A place in the United States, including:; An unincorporated community in Childress County, Texas. countable, uncountable
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 A placename:; A place in the United States, including:; A town in Iron County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 7 A placename:; An island of Nunavut, Canada, in James Bay off the coast of Quebec; in full, Carey Island. countable, uncountable
- 8 A surname.; An English habitational surname from either of these placenames. countable, uncountable
- 9 A surname.; A surname from Irish, anglicized from the Gaelic Ó Ciardha. countable, uncountable
- 10 A surname.; A Celtic surname from Welsh, derived from Carew. countable, uncountable
- 11 A unisex given name.; A male given name transferred from the surname. countable, uncountable
- 12 A unisex given name.; A female given name, variant of Cary. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
given namesurname
Example
"Who has more fans, Celine Dion or Mariah Carey?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "carey"?
Common synonyms include: family name, forename, given name, last name, surname.
How do you use "carey" in a sentence?
Who has more fans, Celine Dion or Mariah Carey?
How do you pronounce "carey"?
Pronounced /ˈkɛəɹi/.
Etymology
* As a German surname, Americanized from Gehrig, Gehring. * As a Welsh surname, variant of Carew. * As an English surname, from placenames derived from Proto-Brythonic *karɨd (“to love”). * As an Irish surname, from mac Fhiachra (“descendant of Fiachra”), from préachán (“crow”). * Also as an Irish surname, from the root of the name Kerry.