cart

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "cart" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a noun to refer to a vehicle that typically has two or four wheels and is used to transport goods or people, such as a shopping cart or a golf cart. For example, "The grocer was pushing a large cart down the aisle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are putting the post-election cart before the pre-election horse.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the mean time, look for products marked as containing sustainable palm oil (more common in cosmetics) and print out this guide to cart around the supermarket.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But as difficult as Pujan finds it to ply his trade, he refuses to set up his cart in the "hawkers' zone", about 1km away from Dadar railway station.

The Guardian

This was at 11.30am, just an hour or so after the original row over his cart.

The Guardian

"It's a murky world, and something that photographers never really challenge – they are all worried about upsetting the apple cart".

The Guardian

Both the opinion pollsters and the Washington political strategists were humbled on Tuesday night, however, when the Tea Party once again showed its capacity to upset the carefully stacked apple cart.

The Guardian

They also object to the cart having been put before the horse: it is only in next year's white paper that we will learn what sort of higher education sector ministers want to see.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was reportedly a place with no roads and no shops to buy clothes, where residents would travel by horse and cart to the next town to buy basic provisions, and where most worked as farm labourers.

The Guardian

(Still, at the beginning of the 21st century, a leading European economic magazine doggedly insisted on illustrating a piece about Poland with a peasant riding on a cart. Today, carts are to be seen in museums).

The Guardian

Shear said that Twitch would remain in its current state, with links to purchase games on Amazon, but that there would be no direct integration with Amazon and its shopping cart and that there had been no discussion of data sharing between the two companies.

The Guardian - Tech

We got some media attention and you might have thought the people in the rest home would have been afraid we were going to cart them off and put them in a freezer somewhere.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cart" to describe a vehicle, specify the type or context (e.g., shopping cart, golf cart) for clarity. This avoids ambiguity and ensures your audience understands the specific kind of vehicle you're referring to.

Common error

Avoid using "cart" generically when a more specific term like "wagon", "trolley", or "wheelbarrow" is more accurate. Using the wrong term can confuse your reader or make your writing seem less precise.

Linguistic Context

The word "cart" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a wheeled vehicle used for transporting goods or people. It can also function as a verb, meaning to carry or transport something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Travel

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "cart" is a versatile term primarily used as a noun to describe a wheeled vehicle for transportation, or as a verb meaning to carry. Ludwig AI confirms that the word is correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. It's important to specify the type of "cart" (e.g., shopping "cart", golf "cart") for clarity. Avoid using "cart" generically when a more specific term like "wagon" or "trolley" would be more accurate. Remember that the expression "putting the "cart" before the horse" means doing things in the wrong order.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

handcart

Specifies a "cart" that is manually pulled or pushed, emphasizing the human effort involved in its movement.

pushcart

Similar to a handcart, but emphasizes the pushing action, often used in street vending.

wagon

Refers to a heavier, often four-wheeled vehicle used for transporting goods or people, differing from a "cart" in size and typical usage.

trolley

Describes a small vehicle pushed by hand, often used for shopping or carrying luggage, similar to a "cart" but typically smaller and lighter.

go-kart

A small, motorized vehicle used for racing, differing from a standard "cart" by its engine and recreational use.

wheelbarrow

A single-wheeled "cart" used for carrying small loads, distinguishing it by its unique design and use.

carriage

Suggests a more elaborate vehicle, often horse-drawn and used for transporting people, contrasting with the typically simpler "cart".

buggy

Refers to a light, often open, four-wheeled vehicle, varying from a basic "cart" in design and usage, especially for infants or on rough terrain.

rickshaw

A two-wheeled passenger "cart" pulled by a person, common in some Asian countries, differing in cultural context and design.

chariot

An ancient two-wheeled vehicle used in warfare or racing, differing significantly in historical context and purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "cart" in a sentence?

You can use "cart" as a noun to refer to a vehicle for carrying goods, like "The farmer loaded his produce onto the cart", or as a verb meaning to transport something, such as "They had to cart the equipment across the field".

What are some synonyms for "cart"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "wagon", "trolley", "handcart", or "wheelbarrow".

Is it correct to say "putting the cart before the horse"?

Yes, the idiom "putting the cart before the horse" is a common expression meaning to do things in the wrong order. It suggests prioritizing something that should come later.

What's the difference between a "cart" and a "carriage"?

While both "cart" and "carriage" are vehicles, a "cart" is generally simpler and used for goods, while a "carriage" is often more elaborate and used for transporting people. Carriages are frequently horse-drawn.