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

That is a little like complimenting a career criminal for pleading guilty instead of insisting on a jury trial.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite this, he refused to give up on his racing career, lobbying to allow both disabled and non-disabled drivers to race alongside each other.

From BBC

Nadolenco spent the following 10 years on one of the wildest legal adventures of his career.

From Los Angeles Times

After closing the last one, in 1979, she moved to Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod, where she took up odd jobs to support her new career as a painter.

From New York Times

In his career, he opted for the stage name Shaboozey – a nickname given to him by a former football coach – because it is a more easily pronounced version of his given name.

From Salon

Related Words

• course
• race