From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcareerca‧reer1 /kəˈrɪə $ -ˈrɪr/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable] 1 a job or profession that you have been trained for, and which you do for a long period of your lifecareer in a career in journalism a teaching career He realized that his acting career was over.career development/advancement/progression etc Career prospects within the company are excellent. a physiotherapist who wanted to make a dramatic career change by becoming an author Nurses want an improved career structure (=better opportunities to move upwards in their jobs).► see thesaurus at job2 → career soldier/teacher etc3 JOB/WORKthe period of time in your life that you spend doing a particular activity She had not had a very impressive school career up till then. My career as an English teacher didn’t last long. Beating the defending champion has to be the highlight of my career.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa successful careerDavid had had a successful career in banking.a distinguished/brilliant career (=very successful)She retired last year after a distinguished career as a barrister.a glittering career (=very successful, especially in sport or acting)Winning the gold medal was the highlight of her glittering career.a promising career (=likely to be successful)She gave up a promising career in advertising in order to look after her children.a political/medical/military etc careerThe scandal ruined his political career.a teaching/acting/sporting careerHer acting career lasted for more than 50 years.a professional careerYou have to be outstanding to have a professional career in music.somebody’s chosen careerHis parents encouraged him in his chosen career as a scientist.verbshave a careerAll my sons had careers in education.make a careerIt isn’t easy to make a career in journalism.pursue a career (=try to make a successful career)She left teaching to pursue a career as a psychologist.begin/start out on/start a careerJacobson started his banking career in 1990.launch/embark on a career (=start one)Rita went to New York where she launched her dancing career.build a career (=make it develop)She built her literary career by writing about crime.change careerPeople may change careers as many as seven times in their lives.revive/resurrect your career (=make it successful again)The singer is seeking to revive his pop career.somebody’s career takes off (=starts to be successful)His career took off and he started making a lot of money.career + NOUNcareer development/advancement/progressionA good job offers a programme of training and career development.career opportunitiesStudents often know little about the career opportunities available to them.career prospects (=opportunities to get a good job or a better position)Good computer skills will improve your career prospects.a career path (=a way of making a career)There’s no fixed career path for becoming an actor.a career structure (=a system for making progress in a career)Teaching offers a clear career structure.the career ladder (=the way to higher positions in a career)Having children can disturb your progress up the career ladder.a career change/moveAfter ten years in the job, I realized that I needed to make a career change.a career woman (=one whose job is very important to her)Career women tend to marry later.careers advice/guidanceMost universities offer professional careers advice.a careers officer (=someone who gives careers advice)If you’re not sure what to do, why don’t you talk to a careers officer?phrasesa career in journalism/politics/teaching etcAt the age of 15, he knew he wanted a career in politics.
Examples from the Corpus
career• Like his father, Tommy chose a career in the Army.• I wanted to find out more about careers in publishing.• The win was the 250th in Anderson's coaching career.• Ripley's texts reflect the contradictions of her career.• Which format a participant should choose will depend upon his or her career stage, work situation and individual learning style.• The scandal destroyed his career as a politician.• Later on in his career he became first secretary at the British Embassy in Washington.• Will spent most of his career as a lawyer.• And that is how I saw this new turn in my career.• It depicts the sad tale of a lavatory attendant, Jim, who reads newspapers to seek a new career.• The Harrods affair will not have helped his political career.• Perhaps in no other political career is defeat at the polls so dreadful.• First investment bankers wanted practical people, willing to subordinate their educations to their careers.• The closer you come to mimicking the originals, the sooner you can advance your career to the next level.career structure• I like to see a career structure in the company I work for 28.• Teachers will be guaranteed a proper salary and career structure.• In October he announced negotiations to review all civil service wage and career structures dating back to 1946.• Proposed changes in the clinical career structure should make clinical nursing less of a poor relation in terms of financial recognition and status.• Marsh and colleagues found that there was a clear and established career structure among the youths on the terraces.• There is a shortage of suitable recruits in the diplomatic service, which offers varied experience abroad and a good career structure.• These will directly affect the career structure within the banks, causing distortions, blockages and a recorded division of labour.• To make a profession out of psychical research was hardly possible, even though by the 1880s there were career structures in more-established sciences.careercareer2 verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] HIT/BUMP INTO British English to move forwards quickly without control, making sudden sideways movements SYN careen American Englishcareer down/along/towards etc The truck careered down the hill and into a tree.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
career• The car careered out diagonally across the lane, heading straight for the wall on the other side.• They careered towards it, speeding up the while.career down/along/towards etc• And Kenneth Branagh is careering towards an early knighthood.• The tram was careering towards Dennistoun and was just passing the Eastern District Hospital.• They careered towards it, speeding up the while.• In her dream, they were still careering along the road.• Chased by police vehicles and a helicopter it rammed three cars as it careered down the wrong side of city centre roads.• As we careered down towards South Wimbledon, I remembered other trips I'd taken to church.From Longman Business Dictionarycareerca‧reer /kəˈrɪə-ˈrɪr/ noun [countable]JOBHUMAN RESOURCES1a job or profession that you have been trained for and intend to do for your working life, and which offers the chance to be PROMOTED (=move up through different levels)My son is thinking of starting a career in the medical profession.He has devoted his legal career to defending those facing execution.You should think long and hard before changing careers.career inI decided to take up a career in advertising.2career soldier/teacher/diplomat etc someone who intends to be a soldier, teacher etc for most of their life, not just for a particular period of timeA career diplomat, she has served with distinction at posts in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Baghdad, and Kuwait.Origin career1 (1500-1600) French carrière, from Old Provençal carriera “street”, from Latin carrus; → CAR 