Carrier-sensing techniques for LTE-based transmissions over unlicensed carriers are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise at least one memory and logic for user equipment (UE), at least a portion of the logic comprised in circuitry coupled to the at least one memory, the logic to cause the UE to receive an uplink (UL) grant indicating a transmit subframe, the transmit subframe to comprise a subframe during which the UE is authorized to perform UL transmission via an unlicensed carrier, the logic to cause the UE to determine whether the UL grant comprises a listen-before-talk (LBT)-contingent UL grant and in response to a determination that the UL grant comprises an LBT-contingent UL grant, identify an LBT interval for the transmit subframe and perform an LBT procedure during the LBT interval to determine whether the unlicensed carrier is idle. Other embodiments are described and claimed.