Synonyms work
Synonyms
work
employment ▪ career ▪ profession ▪ occupation ▪ trade
These are all words for the jobs that somebody does in return for payment, especially over a long period of time.
work the job that somebody does, especially in order to earn money:
It’s very difficult to find work at the moment.
employment (rather formal) work, especially when it is done to earn money; the state of being employed or the situation in which people have work:
Only half the people here are in paid employment.
career the job or series of jobs that somebody has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes:
He had a very distinguished career in the Foreign Office.
profession a type of job that needs special training or skill, especially one that needs a high level of education:
He hopes to enter the medical profession.
The profession is all the people who work in a particular profession: the legal profession . The professions are the traditional jobs that need a high level of education and training, such as being a doctor or lawyer.
occupation (rather formal) a job or profession:
Please state your name, age, and occupation.
trade a job, especially one that involves working with your hands and requires special training and skills:
Carpentry is a highly skilled trade.
Patterns
in/​out of work/​employment
(a) full-time/​part-time work/​employment/​career/​occupation
permanent/​temporary work/​employment
(a) well-paid work/​employment/​profession/​occupation
(a) low-paid work/​employment/​occupation
to look for/​seek/​find work/​employment/​a career/​an occupation
to get/​obtain/​give somebody/​offer somebody/​create/​generate/​provide work/​employment