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

He accomplished very good things in Oxford and he’s turned his career in a steadier direction after a peripatetic start as a football wunderkind.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He's one of the people I credit with my career.

Read more on BBC

Murray, who ended his playing career at the 2024 Paris Olympics, joined Djokovic's coaching team last November but they parted company after just six months.

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In six career games so far, advanced metrics peg him as one of the most inefficient quarterbacks in modern history.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Which goes to show that a midlife shake-up, let’s call it, can happen to a career, too.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• course 
• race