job

[ job ]

/ dʒɒb /

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noun

a piece of work, especially a specific task done as part of the routine of one's occupation or for an agreed price: She gave him the job of mowing the lawn.

a post of employment; full-time or part-time position: She was seeking a job as an editor.

anything a person is expected or obliged to do; duty; responsibility: It is your job to be on time.

an affair, matter, occurrence, or state of affairs: to make the best of a bad job.

the material, project, assignment, etc., being worked upon: The housing project was a long and costly job.

the process or requirements, details, etc., of working: It was a tedious job.

the execution or performance of a task: She did a good job.

Informal. a medical procedure or operation performed to improve the appearance of a specified part of the body (used in combination): a nose job; a boob job to enlarge her breasts.

Slang. a theft or similar criminal action: The police caught the gang that pulled that bank job.

a public or official act or decision carried through for the sake of improper private gain.

Slang. an example of a specific or distinctive type: That little six-cylinder job was the best car I ever owned.That guy sure is a good-looking job.

Computers. a unit of work for a computer, generally comprising an application program or group of related programs and the data, linkages, and instructions to the operating system needed for running the programs.

verb (used without object), jobbed, job·bing.

to work at jobs or odd pieces of work; work by the piece.

to do business as a jobber.

to turn public business, planning, etc., improperly to private gain.

verb (used with object), jobbed, job·bing.

to assign or give (work, a contract for work, etc.) in separate portions, as among different contractors or workers (often followed by out): He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits.

to buy in large quantities, as from wholesalers or manufacturers, and sell to dealers in smaller quantities: He jobs shoes in Ohio and Indiana.

to get rid of or dispose of: His party jobbed him when he sought a second term in office.

to swindle or trick (someone): They jobbed him out of his property.

to carry on (public or official business) for improper private gain.

adjective

of or for a particular job or transaction.

bought, sold, or handled together: He's too big a customer to buy in less than job quantities.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about job

do a job on, Slang.

to destroy, defeat, damage, or confound thoroughly: The thugs did a job on him—he'll be in the hospital for a month.
to deceive, persuade, or charm glibly; snow.

on the job, alert; observant: The cops were on the job and caught them red-handed.

Origin of job

First recorded in 1620–30; origin uncertain

synonym study for job

1. See task. 2. See position.

Words nearby job

Joanne, joannes, Joan of Arc, João Pessoa, Joash, job, job action, job analysis, Jo. Bapt., job bank, jobber

Other definitions for job (2 of 3)

job²

[ job ]

/ dʒɒb /

verb (used with or without object), noun jobbed, job·bing,

poke; thrust; punch.

Origin of job

First recorded in 1475–1500; late Middle English jobben “to jab, thrust, peck, poke”; further origin uncertain

Other definitions for job (3 of 3)

Job

[ johb ]

/ dʒoʊb /

noun

the central figure in an Old Testament parable of the righteous sufferer.

a book of the Bible bearing his name.

a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “persecuted.”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use job in a sentence

They’re very upset that we’ve done such a good job with the vaccine.
Election live updates: Trump returns to Wisconsin; Biden to face live audience at town hall|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
College students, searching for a way to get job-ready, flocked to the platform from Northern Italy to South-East Asia, to all over the United States.
Forage, formerly InsideSherpa, raises $9.3 million Series A for virtual work experiences|Natasha Mascarenhas|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
It’s hard not to be happy with the job we’re doing, that I can tell you.
Timeline: The 124 times Trump has downplayed the coronavirus threat|Aaron Blake, JM Rieger|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
If those are attributable to the novel coronavirus, we’ve already moved out of good-job territory.
Trump blames blue states for the coronavirus death toll — but most recent deaths have been in red states|Philip Bump|September 16, 2020|Washington Post

After a pause during lockdown, lenders from Citigroup to HSBC Holdings have restarted cuts, taking gross losses announced this year to a combined 63,785 jobs, according to a Bloomberg analysis of filings.
The incredibly shrinking banking sector is heading for near-record job losses this year|Bernhard Warner|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Then add in all bored people, as well as people whose job it is to report on celebrities.
Sia and Shia LaBeouf’s Pedophilia Nontroversy Over ‘Elastic Heart’|Marlow Stern|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That officer fretting about his “stance,” we learn, is plagued by PTSD that cripples him both on the job and at home.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Eric Garcetti succeeded Villaraigosa and has received high marks in his first year and a half on the job.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“I love my job and I love my city and I am committed to the work here,” he said in a statement.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It has nothing to do with the regulatory job he is nominated for.
Sen. Warren’s Main Street Crusade to Pressure Clinton|Eleanor Clift|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Elyon is the name of an ancient Phœnician god, slain by his son El, no doubt the “first-born of death” in Job xviii.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
Thus was the man left entirely to the devil, not even his life being reserved, as in the case of Job.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
The majority pick up a job when they can, but are inevitably idle and suffering two-thirds of the time.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
I'm somewhat puzzled to know why they didn't stand pat and make a clean job of us both.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
I have recently found out that she was christened Tabitha—or, anyhow, would have been, if the clergyman had known his job.
First Plays|A. A. Milne

British Dictionary definitions for job (1 of 2)

job

/ (dʒɒb) /

noun

an individual piece of work or task

an occupation; post of employment

an object worked on or a result produced from working

a duty or responsibilityher job was to cook the dinner

informal a difficult task or problemI had a job to contact him

a state of affairsmake the best of a bad job; it's a good job I saw you

informal a damaging piece of workhe really did a job on that

informal a crime, esp a robbery or burglary

informal an article or specimenthe new car was a nice little job

an instance of jobbery

computing a unit of work for a computer consisting of a single complete task submitted by a user

jobs for the boys appointments given to or created for allies or favourites

on the job

actively engaged in one's employment
British taboo engaged in sexual intercourse

just the job exactly what was required

verb jobs, jobbing or jobbed

(intr) to work by the piece or at casual jobs

to make a private profit out of (a public office, etc)

(intr usually foll by in)

to buy and sell (goods or services) as a middlemanhe jobs in government surplus
British to buy and sell stocks and shares as a stockjobberhe jobs in blue chips

(tr often foll by out) to apportion (a contract, work, etc) among several contractors, workers, etc

Word Origin for job

C16: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for job (2 of 2)

Job

/ (dʒəʊb) /

noun

Old Testament

a Jewish patriarch, who maintained his faith in God in spite of the afflictions sent by God to test him
the book containing Job's pleas to God under these afflictions, attempted explanations of them by his friends, and God's reply to him

any person who withstands great suffering without despairing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for job

Job

[ (johb) ]

In the Old Testament, a man whose faith was severely tested by Satan, with God's permission. Job was the most prosperous and happy of men, who faithfully praised God for God's goodness. In order to get him to curse God, Satan destroyed all that Job owned, killed his children, and struck Job himself with vile sores from head to foot. False friends of Job's suggested that he should abandon his beliefs (see Job's comforters). But even in absolute misery, Job would not curse God, saying instead, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord.” As a reward for his steadfast faith, God healed Job and “gave him twice as much as he had before.”

notes for Job

Figuratively, any long-suffering person can be said to be “as patient as Job.”

Other Idioms and Phrases with job

job

see do a job on; hatchet man (job); lie down (on the job); on the job; put-up job; snow job; soft job.

job

Idioms about job

Origin of job

synonym study for job

Words nearby job

Other definitions for job (2 of 3)

Origin of job

Other definitions for job (3 of 3)

Words related to job

How to use job in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for job (1 of 2)

Word Origin for job

British Dictionary definitions for job (2 of 2)

Cultural definitions for job

notes for Job

Other Idioms and Phrases with job