A2 noun Neutral #371 most common

career

/kəˈrɪər/

A career is the series of jobs that a person has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility and experience over time. It represents a person's long-term professional journey rather than just a single short-term job.

Examples

3 of 5
1

She is very happy with her career as a chef.

She is very satisfied with her professional path as a professional cook.

2

The university provides career counseling services to all graduating students.

The college offers professional guidance services to all students finishing their degrees.

3

What do you want to do for a career when you grow up?

What kind of professional life do you want to have when you are an adult?

Word Family

Noun
career
Verb
career
Adjective
career-minded
Related
careerist
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Memory Tip

Think of a CAR on a long ROAD. Your CAREER is the long road your professional life travels on.

Quick Quiz

She wants to start a ______ in medicine because she loves helping people.

Correct!

The correct answer is: career

Examples

1

She is very happy with her career as a chef.

everyday

She is very satisfied with her professional path as a professional cook.

2

The university provides career counseling services to all graduating students.

formal

The college offers professional guidance services to all students finishing their degrees.

3

What do you want to do for a career when you grow up?

informal

What kind of professional life do you want to have when you are an adult?

4

Research shows that early career choices significantly impact long-term financial stability.

academic

Studies demonstrate that initial professional decisions greatly affect future money security.

5

He decided to pursue a career in digital marketing because the industry is growing fast.

business

He chose to follow a professional path in online advertising because that sector is expanding quickly.

Word Family

Noun
career
Verb
career
Adjective
career-minded
Related
careerist

Common Collocations

career path the sequence of jobs that lead to your professional goal
successful career a professional life with many achievements and growth
career goals the things you want to achieve in your professional life
change careers to move from one type of work to a completely different one
career prospects the chances of being successful in a particular profession

Common Phrases

career ladder

the series of stages that you move through to get to better jobs

mid-career

being in the middle of your professional working life

career break

a period of time when you stop working, often to travel or have children

Often Confused With

career vs job

A job is a specific position you do for money; a career is the total sum of your work life and progress.

career vs course

Learners sometimes use 'career' to mean their university degree, but 'career' only refers to work, not studies.

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Usage Notes

Use 'career' when discussing your long-term plans or your professional history. Avoid using it to describe a single task or a job you only plan to keep for a few months.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Many learners say 'I am studying my career,' but you should say 'I am studying for my degree' or 'I am preparing for my career.'

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Memory Tip

Think of a CAR on a long ROAD. Your CAREER is the long road your professional life travels on.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Middle French word 'carriere', which meant a 'road' or a 'racecourse'.

Grammar Patterns

countable noun (plural: careers) often follows verbs like 'start', 'pursue', 'build', or 'launch'
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Cultural Context

In many English-speaking cultures, a career is often considered a central part of a person's identity and social status.

Quick Quiz

She wants to start a ______ in medicine because she loves helping people.

Correct!

The correct answer is: career

Related Phrases

Related Words

proceed

C1

The noun form, typically used in the plural 'proceeds,' refers to the total amount of money received from a particular event, sale, or activity. It is a formal term used in academic, legal, and business contexts to describe the result of a financial transaction or fundraising effort.

individual

C1

Relating to a single person or thing as distinct from a group. It describes something that is intended for, or used by, one person rather than a collective entity.

appropriately

B2

To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.

region

B2

A region is an area of land that has common features, such as geography, climate, or culture, which distinguish it from other areas. It can refer to a large part of a country or the world and is often used in administrative or scientific contexts to organize space.

resource

B2

A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. In academic and informational contexts, it refers to a source of information or expertise used to support research or learning.

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

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