career

American  

[kuh-reer] / kəˈrɪər /

noun

careers plural

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.

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verb (used without object)

careers, present (3rd person singular) careered, past participle, past careering present participle

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

adjective

1. having or following a career; professional.

   a career diplomat.

career British  

/ 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

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verb

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

career Idioms  

1. see checkered career.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• careers
  plural

Participles

• careering
  present
• careered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• career
  simple
• careers
  simple
• have careered
  perfect
• has careered
  perfect
• am careering
  progressive
• are careering
  progressive
• is careering
  progressive
• have been careering
  perfect progressive
• has been careering
  perfect progressive

Past

• careered
  simple
• had careered
  perfect
• was careering
  progressive
• were careering
  progressive
• had been careering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will career
  simple
• will have careered
  perfect
• will be careering
  progressive
• will have been careering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of career

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” ( see car ¹) + -āria (feminine of -ārius -ary )

Explanation

You may have to take jobs as a dog walker, cat groomer, and fish feeder before you complete school for a career as a veterinarian. Small jobs in the short term give you experience for a long-term career. Career comes from the French carrière, from an older word for "street" or "road." Staying on track for a certain career is like driving a car in one direction on a road, instead of veering in different directions. Maybe the expression "career path" is helpful in remembering that a career is something that progresses, or moves forward on a set path. It can also be used as a verb to describe something moving quickly and uncontrollably, like a car careering into a ditch.

Example Sentences

At 17, he was earning £120 a week as a semi-professional in the German fourth tier while balancing his footballing career with eight-hour shifts at a factory.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026

Scheffler, who is attempting to become the seventh player to complete the career Grand Slam is level with McIlroy, after carding a two-under 68.

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2026

It is not hyperbole to say that Ford turns in the performance of his career, assisted by Michael J. Fox’s guest star appearances and the sensitive work of his castmates.

From Salon • Jun. 20, 2026

In an unforeseen career turn, Mattingly finds himself serving as the interim manager of the star-studded Philadelphia Phillies, tasked with rescuing a potentially disastrous season.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026

Alphonse Bertillon, the man with the wrong name, would spend his career trying to find the right names for everyone else.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

• course
• race