Meaning of “career” in the English Dictionary

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"career" in English

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careernoun [ C ]

uk ​ /kəˈrɪər/ us ​ /kəˈrɪr/

B1 the job or series of jobs that you do during your working life, especially if you continue to get better jobs and earn more money:

He's hoping for a career in the police force/as a police officer.
When he retires he will be able to look back over a brilliant career (= a working life that has been very successful).
It helps if you can move a few rungs up the career ladder before taking time off to have a baby.
I took this new job because I felt that the career prospects were much better.
Judith is very career-minded/-oriented (= gives a lot of attention to her job).

More examples

careerverb [ I usually + adv/prep ]

uk ​ /kəˈrɪər/ us ​ /kəˈrɪr/

(Definition of “career” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"career" in American English

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careernoun [ C ]

us ​ /kəˈrɪər/

career noun [ C ] (JOB)

› a job for which you are trained and in which it is possible to advance during your working life, so that you get greater responsibility and earn more money:

He’s hoping for a career in social work.
She left college to pursue an acting career.

careerverb [ I always + adv/prep ]

us ​ /kəˈrɪər/

career verb [ I always + adv/prep ] (MOVE)

› (esp. of a vehicle) to move fast and without control:

The bus careered down a slope and hit a telephone pole.

careeradjective [ not gradable ]

us ​ /kəˈrɪər/

career adjective [ not gradable ] (JOB)

› done as a job all your life:

a career politician

(Definition of “career” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"career" in Business English

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careernoun [ C ]

uk ​ /kəˈrɪər/ us ​ HR

› the job or series of jobs that you do during your working life, especially when this involves making progress to better jobs or is in a particular profession:

a career in sth He's hoping for a career in web design.
a career as sth I worked there early in my career as civil engineer.
a career with sth Sharon enjoyed a long career with the BBC.
pursue/make/have a career It is not easy to make a career in broadcasting.
a brilliant/successful/distinguished career
a political/medical/academic career
You should continue learning throughout your professional career.

See also

dual career
portfolio career

careeradjective [ before noun ]

uk ​ /kəˈrɪər/ us ​ HR

› related to your job:

career opportunities/prospects I took this new job because I felt that the career prospects were much better.
career choice/option For him, art was a way of life, not a career choice.
career-minded/-oriented Sean is very career-oriented and ambitious.

› spending all or most of your working life in the same job or field:

a career diplomat/soldier/criminal

› US →  careers

(Definition of “career” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Blogs about "career"

The language of work

by katewoodford,

Translations of “career”
 
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