career

UK: /kəˈrɪə^r/ US: /kəˈrɪr/ ,(kə rēr′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ca•reer /kəˈrɪr/   n. 

1. a profession that is one's most important work in life:
   [countable] Women should have the same opportunity for the career of their choice as men do.
2. [countable] a person's general course of action through some or all of life:
   a short career as a soldier.
3. [uncountable] speed, esp. full speed.

v. [no object]

4. to go at full speed:
   The car went careering down the highway.

adj. [before a noun]

5. having as a career;
   professional:
   He was a career diplomat.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ca•reer  (kə rēr′), n. 

1. an occupation or profession, esp. 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.
3. success in a profession, occupation, etc.
4. a course, esp. a swift one.
5. speed, esp. full speed:
   The horse stumbled in full career.
6. [Archaic.] a charge at full speed.

v.i. 

7. to run or move rapidly along;
   go at full speed.

adj. 

8. having or following a career;
   professional:
   a career diplomat.

• Late Latin carrāria (via) vehicular (road), equivalent. to Latin carr(us) wagon (see car¹) + -āria, feminine of -ārius -ary
• Old Provencal carriera literally, road
• Middle French carriere
• 1525–35

Synonyms

• 2. vocation, calling, work, lifework, livelihood.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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. (intransitive) to move swiftly along; rush in an uncontrolled way

Etymology: 16th Century: from French carrière, from Late Latin carrāria carriage road, from Latin carrus two-wheeled wagon, car