carries a torch (for)

phrase

variants or carries the torch (for)
present tense third-person singular of carry a torch (for)
as in loves
to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for She still carries a torch for her husband after over 30 years of marriage.

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for carries a torch (for)
falls for
Phrase
  • The first season from PK Studio Productions centers on Mosleh as Parmiss Mansour, the grad student who falls for Nava (Amanda Wear) and deals with coming out, including to her overbearing traditional Muslim family.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In the film, Jolie steps into the role of filmmaker—and mother-of-one—Maxine Walker, who falls for her cinematographer, Anton (Louis Garrel), after she’s diagnosed with breast cancer.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of falls for
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

carries
carries a torch (for)
carries away
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Cite this Entry

“Carries a torch (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carries%20a%20torch%20%28for%29. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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