Career Meaning
/kəˈɹɪə/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounOne’s calling in life; one's working occupation or profession, especially when pursued seriously or over a long period of time.
nounThe course, evolution, and ongoing advancement of one's working life, especially in one particular field.
Sentence Examples
His career prospects at the company are not too promising.
I'll bet Madonna doesn't return to her career for awhile.
Her parents backed her in her choice of career.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
She built a successful ____ in medicine after graduating from medical school.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She wants to pursue a ____ in medicine and help people in the future.
Word Origin & History
Mid 16th century, from French carrière (“road; racecourse”), from Italian carriera, from Old Occitan carreira, from Late Latin carrāria based on Latin carrus (“wheeled vehicle”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱr̥sós, from *ḱers- (“to run”); alternatively, from Middle French carriere, from Old Occitan.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"When they’ve tortured and scared you for twenty-odd years, / Then they expect you to pick a career"
— 1971, “Working Class Hero”, in John Lennon (lyrics), John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band, performed by John Lennon:
"Devils Lake is where I began my career as a limnologist in 1964, studying the lake’s neotenic salamanders and chironomids, or midge flies."
— 2012 January 26, Douglas Larson, “Runaway Devils Lake”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 23 May 2012, page 46:
"As I explored the possibility of a library science path, having previously been employed in libraries during my school career and afterwards, I decided that I needed to actually experience work in a library setting full time again […]"
— 2002, Priscilla K. Shontz, Steven J. Oberg, Jump Start Your Career in Library and Information Science, page 21:
"What rein can hold licentious wickedness
When down the hill he holds his fierce career?"
— c. 1599, William Shakespeare, Henry V, act 3, scene 3:
"when a horse is running in his full career"
— 1648, John Wilkins, Mathematicall Magick. Or, The Wonders that may be Performed by Mechanicall Geometry. […], London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Sa[muel] Gellibrand […], →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She built a successful ____ in medicine after graduating from medical school.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She wants to pursue a ____ in medicine and help people in the future.