noun

career

kuh-REER

noun

The series of jobs a person has over the course of their working life, especially in one field.

"She built a long career in journalism."

"He switched careers in his forties to become a teacher."

verb

To move fast and out of control, often in a dangerous or reckless way.

"The runaway cart careered down the hill."

"The car careered off the road after hitting a patch of ice."

adjective

Doing something as a long-term profession rather than casually.

"He was a career diplomat, not a political appointee."

"She described him as a career criminal."

How to Use Career

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishYour ongoing working life in a particular profession, or (as a verb) moving wildly out of control.

Common mistake

The verb sense ("careered off the road") is unrelated in feel to the noun ("career in medicine") even though it comes from the same racecourse root — don't assume they always connect in meaning.

Common pairings

career path build a career career change careered down the street

Word Forms

careered past tense, careers plural, careers singular

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She built a long _____ in journalism.

Etymology

From French carrière ("racecourse, road"), from Italian carriera, ultimately from Latin carrus ("wheeled vehicle") — the racecourse sense came first, and "career" only later broadened to mean someone's whole working path, as if running a long track through life.

Rhymes for career

beer deer peer leer veer seer heer queer steer sneer cheer sheer

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