career

[kuh-reer]

noun

1. an occupation or profession, especially one requiring special training, followed as one's lifework.

   He sought a career as a lawyer.

2. a person's progress or general course of action through life or through a phase of life, as in some profession or undertaking.

   His career as a soldier ended with the armistice.

   Synonyms: livelihood, lifework, work, calling, vocation

3. success in a profession, occupation, etc.

4. a course, especially a swift one.

5. speed, especially full speed.

   The horse stumbled in full career.

6. Archaic.,  a charge at full speed.

verb (used without object)

1. to run or move rapidly along; go at full speed.

adjective

1. having or following a career; professional.

   a career diplomat.

career

/ kəˈrɪə /

noun

1. a path or progress through life or history

2. a profession or occupation chosen as one's life's work

3. (modifier) having or following a career as specified

   a career diplomat

4. a course or path, esp a swift or headlong one

verb

1. (intr) to move swiftly along; rush in an uncontrolled way

Word History and Origins

Origin of career¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French carriere, from Old Provençal carriera, literally, “road,” from Late Latin carrāria (via) “vehicular (road),” equivalent to Latin carr(us) “wagon” ( car ¹ ) + -āria (feminine of -ārius -ary )

Word History and Origins

Origin of career¹

C16: from French carrière, from Late Latin carrāria carriage road, from Latin carrus two-wheeled wagon, _car

Idioms and Phrases

see checkered career.

Example Sentences

We already knew Eze was super-talented from his time at Crystal Palace, and he had made a good start to his Arsenal career, showing glimpses of brilliance.

Read more on BBC

Her first basket, a layup after cutting through the paint in the second quarter, gave the senior guard her 1,000th career point.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s tempting to dismiss the abrupt retirement of Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress as the end of an odd, cranky political career.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But now there’s a backlash on campuses over “career funneling”—schools only allowing interviews on campus for what students consider objectionable jobs, like finance and consulting.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"This is where his Arsenal career takes off."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• course 
• race