TOP

Definition of career noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

career

noun
 
/kəˈrɪə(r)/
 
/kəˈrɪr/
jump to other results
  1. the series of jobs that a person has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes
    • a teaching career
    • career in something She plans to pursue a career in medicine.
    • He had a successful career in television journalism.
    • career as something He enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a historian.
    • She has been concentrating on her career.
    • a change of career
    • That will be a good career move (= something that will help your career).
    • We wish our graduates every success in whatever career path they have chosen.
    • a career soldier/diplomat (= a professional one)
    • (British English) a careers adviser/officer (= a person whose job is to give people advice and information about jobs)
    Synonyms workworkemployment career profession occupation tradeThese are all words for the jobs that somebody does in return for payment, especially over a long period of time. work the job that somebody does, especially in order to earn money:
    • It’s very difficult to find work at the moment.
    employment (rather formal) work, especially when it is done to earn money; the state of being employed or the situation in which people have work:
    • Only half the people here are in paid employment.
    career the job or series of jobs that somebody has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes:
    • He had a very distinguished career in the Foreign Office.
    profession a type of job that needs special training or skill, especially one that needs a high level of education:
    • He hopes to enter the medical profession.
    The profession is all the people who work in a particular profession: the legal profession. The professions are the traditional jobs that need a high level of education and training, such as being a doctor or lawyer.
    occupation (rather formal) a job or profession:
    • Please state your name, age, and occupation.
    trade a job, especially one that involves working with your hands and requires special training and skills:
    • Carpentry is a highly skilled trade.
    Patterns
    • in/​out of work/​employment
    • (a) full-time/​part-time work/​employment/​career/​occupation
    • permanent/​temporary work/​employment
    • (a) well-paid work/​employment/​profession/​occupation
    • (a) low-paid work/​employment/​occupation
    • to look for/​seek/​find work/​employment/​a career/​an occupation
    • to get/​obtain/​give somebody/​offer somebody/​create/​generate/​provide work/​employment
    Collocations JobsJobsGetting a job
    • look for work
    • look for/​apply for/​go for a job
    • get/​pick up/​complete/​fill out/ (British English) fill in an application (form)
    • send/​email your (British English) CV/(North American English) résumé/application/​application form/​covering letter
    • be called for/​have/​attend an interview
    • offer somebody a job/​work/​employment/​promotion
    • find/​get/​land a job
    • employ/ (especially North American English) hire/​recruit/ (especially British English) take on staff/​workers/​trainees
    • recruit/​appoint a manager
    Doing a job
    • arrive at/​get to/​leave work/​the office/​the factory
    • start/​finish work/​your shift
    • do/​put in/​work overtime
    • have/​gain/​get/​lack/​need experience/​qualifications
    • do/​get/​have/​receive training
    • learn/​pick up/​improve/​develop (your) skills
    • cope with/​manage/​share/​spread the workload
    • improve your/​achieve a better work-life balance
    • have (no) job satisfaction/​job security
    Building a career
    • have a job/​work/​a career/​a vocation
    • find/​follow/​pursue/ (especially North American English) live (out) your vocation
    • enter/​go into/​join a profession
    • choose/​embark on/​start/​begin/​pursue a career
    • change jobs/​profession/​career
    • be/ (both especially British English) work/​go freelance
    • do/​take on temp work/​freelance work
    • do/​be engaged in/​be involved in voluntary work
    Leaving your job
    • leave/ (especially North American English) quit/​resign from your job
    • give up work/​your job/​your career
    • hand in your notice/​resignation
    • plan to/​be due to retire in June/​next year, etc.
    • take early retirement
    Extra Examples
    • He did a film for Hollywood to boost his flagging career.
    • She had a distinguished career as a diplomat.
    • He has had a somewhat chequered career.
    • He made a good career for himself in football.
    • She achieved a lot in her chosen career.
    • She pursued a successful career in medicine.
    • The movie revived his flagging career.
    • The profession has no clear career structure.
    • It's time for a career change.
    • What made you decide on a career as a vet?
    • Kelly's career took off when she was spotted at a talent contest.
    • She was on the first step of the career ladder.
    • Students can get free careers advice between 6.30 and 8.30 each evening.
    • The course focuses on your career development.
    Topics Working lifea1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • long
    • brief
    • short
    verb + career
    • build
    • carve
    • carve out
    career + verb
    • last something
    • span something
    • begin
    career + noun
    • break
    • advancement
    • development
    preposition
    • during somebody’s career
    • throughout somebody’s career
    • career in
    phrases
    • the height of your career
    • the peak of your career
    • a change of career
    See full entry
  2. the period of time that you spend in your life working or doing a particular thing
    • She started her career as an English teacher.
    • He began his professional boxing career in 1998.
    • She is playing the best tennis of her career.
    • My school career was not very impressive.
    • in somebody's career This was a turning point in her career.
    • throughout/during somebody's career He has had injury problems throughout his career.
    Extra Examples
    • He has spent his entire career in education.
    • That was the album that launched their recording career.
    • Her stage career spans sixty years.
    • He started his working career as a waiter.
    • She was at the peak of her career when she injured herself.
    • His performance as Al in the movie was a career high.
    • He was the first golfer to surpass $2 million in career earnings.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • chequered/​checkered
    • colourful/​colorful
    • turbulent
    verb + career
    • have
    • start
    See full entry
  3. Word Originmid 16th cent. (denoting a road or racecourse): from French carrière, from Italian carriera, based on Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle’.
See career in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee career in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
trait
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day