career
Professional usage of this word focuses on the trajectory of a person's working life. It suggests a long-term path of growth and specialization rather than just a job, which is a specific role. It carries a connotation of ambition and cumulative achievement over decades.
When used as a verb, the word evokes a sense of chaotic, high-speed motion. It implies a loss of control and a dangerous momentum, often used in the context of vehicles or objects moving wildly toward a crash or an edge.
Countable when referring to the individual professional journeys of different people. Uncountable when discussing the general concept of professional employment.
Meanings
Examples
She spent her entire career working as a dedicated surgeon.
The runaway vehicle careered wildly across the frozen lake.
Phrasal Verbs
career off
to move uncontrollably away from a path or road
The vehicle careered off the highway during the storm.
career into
to crash or move uncontrollably into an object
The runaway truck careered into a brick wall.