Career refers to the series of occupations, roles, and professional experiences that a person engages in over time, often emphasizing advancement or trajectory. It can also denote a lifetime of work in a chosen field. In everyday use, people discuss their career goals, career progression, or a career change.
"She built a successful career in software development over the past decade."
"After graduation, he decided to pursue a teaching career abroad."
"Her career trajectory includes roles in management, consulting, and entrepreneurship."
"They discussed how a flexible career might fit with their family plans."
Career comes from the Old French word carrière, meaning 'course of life' or 'way to run' and from the Italian carriera meaning 'a racecourse, race, or career' (from Latin carrus, 'wagon, cart'). In Middle English, career evolved to describe a swift, continuous progression—both in a race and in one’s life work—reflecting the sense of advancement and movement. The modern sense of a person’s lifelong work path emerged in the 17th–18th centuries, aligning with industrial and professional expansion. The term carries connotations of trajectory and direction, often emphasizing purposeful development within a chosen field. First known use in English literature dates to early 15th century, but the broad modern sense of professional life solidified in the 19th century as formal employment structures and career ladders developed.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Career" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Career" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Career" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Career"
-rer sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
/kəˈriər/ in US and /ˈkær.iə/ in many UK varieties; commonly two syllables with the primary stress on the second syllable in US usage. Begin with a schwa or a short ‘ca’ sound, then rise into a distinct 'ri-er' sequence. In connected speech you may hear the second syllable reduced slightly to /-ɪə/ or blended; try to enunciate the 'r' (US) or let it be non-rhotic (UK). IPA guide: US /kəˈriər/, UK /ˈkær.iə/. Audio reference: check reputable dictionaries or pronunciation videos.
Two frequent errors: (1) Stressing the first syllable as in 'CARE-er' instead of the typical US two-syllable pattern with stress on the second: /kəˈriər/. (2) Merging the second syllable too quickly into a single glide, producing /ˈkæriər/ or /ˈkærɪə/. Correction: hold the second syllable long enough for /riər/ and clearly articulate the /r/ vowel transition. Practice with minimal pairs and deliberate syllable-tapping to reinforce the two-syllable rhythm.
In US English, you’ll typically hear /kəˈriər/ with a rhotically pronounced second syllable and a clear /r/ before it. UK English often presents /ˈkær.iə/ with a shorter, clipped first syllable and reduced rhotics, leading to more syllable-timed rhythm. Australian English lies between US and UK, commonly /kəˈriə/ or /ˈkæriə/, with less pronounced rhoticity and variable vowel length. IPA references guide these differences: US /kəˈriər/, UK /ˈkær.iə/, AU /kəˈriə/.
The difficulty stems from the two-syllable rhythm and the cluster /riər/ or /ˌriːə/ that blends a vowel into a rhotic or non-rhotic ending. Non-native speakers may misplace stress, produce a long first vowel, or reduce the second syllable too much, making it sound like /ˈkær.i(ə)/ or /kəˈriə/ without the clear second syllable anchor. Focus on accurate vowel height, the /r/ or its absence, and the precise sequence of consonant-vowel transitions to master the word.
In standard American and many UK variants, the 'ea' in career is not a long 'ea' as in 'sea'; it’s the vowel sequence that results in /əˈriər/ (US) or /ˈkær.iə/ (UK). The 'ea' contributes to the mid-to-high front vowel quality transitioning into a rhotic or trailing vowel, but it is not a steady diphthong like 'ea' in 'bead'. The primary acoustic cue is the second syllable onset /ri/ or /riə/ and the rhoticity (US) vs non-rhotic (UK/AU).
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Career"!
No related words found
See how this word is used in our articles
