A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
Once I'm in America I can get a job.
Thousands have lost their jobs.
I felt the pressure of being the first woman in the job.
...overseas job vacancies.
Synonyms: position, post, function, capacity More Synonyms of job
2. countable noun [noun NOUN]
A job is a particular task.
He said he hoped that the job of putting together a coalition wouldn't take too muchtime. [+ of]
Save major painting jobs for the spring or summer.
3. countable noun [usually with poss]
The job of a particular person or thing is their duty or function.
Their main job is to preserve health rather than treat illness.
His next job is to get us to the World Cup finals.
Drinking a lot helps the kidneys do their job.
Synonyms: task, concern, duty, charge More Synonyms of job
4.
See good job
5. singular noun [usu N -ing, NOUN to-infinitive]
If you say that you have ajob doing something, you are emphasizing how difficult it is.
[emphasis]
He may have a hard job selling that argument to investors.
With all these different pensions, you're going to have a job to keep track.
Synonyms: difficulty, problem, hassle [informal], trouble More Synonyms of job
6. See also day job, hatchet job, jobbing, on-the-job
7.
See jobs for the boys
8.
See just the job
9.
See on the job
10. it's a good job
11. the job in hand
More Synonyms of job
job in British English
(dʒɒb)
noun
1.
an individual piece of work or task
2.
an occupation; post of employment
3.
an object worked on or a result produced from working
4.
a duty or responsibility
her job was to control the budget
5. informal
a difficult task or problem
I had a job to contact him
6.
a state of affairs
make the best of a bad job
it's a good job I saw you
7. informal
a damaging piece of work
he really did a job on that
8. informal
a crime, esp a robbery or burglary
9. informal
an article or specimen
the new car was a nice little job
10.
an instance of jobbery
11. computing
a unit of work for a computer consisting of a single complete task submitted by a user
12. jobs for the boys
13. on the job
14. just the job
verbWord forms: jobs, jobbing or jobbed
15. (intransitive)
to work by the piece or at casual jobs
16.
to make a private profit out of (a public office, etc)
17. (intransitive; usually foll byin)
a.
to buy and sell (goods or services) as a middleman
he jobs in government surplus
b. British
to buy and sell stocks and shares as a stockjobber
he jobs in blue chips
18. (transitive; often foll byout)
to apportion (a contract, work, etc) among several contractors, workers, etc
Word origin
C16: of uncertain origin
Job in British English
(dʒəʊb)
noun
1. Old Testament
a.
a Jewish patriarch, who maintained his faith in God in spite of the afflictions sent by God to test him
b.
the book containing Job's pleas to God under these afflictions, attempted explanations of them by his friends, and God's reply to him
2.
any person who withstands great suffering without despairing
Job in American English
(dʒoʊb)
noun Bible
1.
a man who endured much suffering but did not lose his faith in God
2.
the book telling of him
abbrev. Jb
Word origin
LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) Iōb < Heb 'Iyyōbh
job in American English1
(dʒɑb)
noun
1.
a specific piece of work, as in one's trade, or done by agreement for pay
2.
anything one has to do; task; chore; duty
3.
the thing or material being worked on
4.
a.
the action of doing a task, duty, or piece of work
b.
a result or product of such action
5. US
a position of employment; situation; work
6. Informal
a criminal act or deed, as a theft, etc.
7. Informal
any happening, affair, matter, object, etc.
8. Chiefly British
a thing done supposedly in the public interest but actually for private gain
adjective
9.
hired or done by the job
see also job lot
verb intransitiveWord forms: jobbed or ˈjobbing
10.
to do odd jobs
11.
to act as a jobber or broker
12. Chiefly British
to do public or official business dishonestly for private gain
verb transitive
13.
to buy and sell (goods) as wholesaler; handle as middleman
14.
to let or sublet (work, contracts, etc.)
15.
to hire or let for hire, as a horse or carriage
16. Slang
to deceive; trick; cheat
17. Chiefly British
to transact (public business) dishonestly for private gain
SIMILAR WORDS: poˈsition, task
Idioms:
odd jobs
on the job
job in American English2
(dʒɑb)
noun, verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: jobbed or ˈjobbing
Dialectal
jab
Word origin
ME jobben, to peck
More idioms containing
job
do a hatchet job on someone or something
have a devil of a job
do a demolition job on someone
don't give up the day job
a full-time job
do a job on someone
a snow job
COBUILD Collocations
job
accept a job
another job
axe jobs
change jobs
construction job
cost jobs
decent job
fine job
great job
important job
impossible job
lose a job
low-paid job
managerial job
menial job
new job
permanent job
plum job
previous job
proper job
protect jobs
save jobs
shed jobs
skilled job
take a job
temporary job
want a job
well-paid job
Quotations
If you have a job without aggravations, you don't have a jobMalcolm S. Forbes
Everyone sees life through their job. To the doctor the world is a hospital, to the broker it is a stock exchange, to the lawyer a vast criminal courtAlasdair GrayJanine
Word lists with
job
Books of the Old Testament
In other languages
job
British English: job /dʒɒb/ NOUN
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
After I finish school, I will get a job.
American English: job
Arabic: وَظِيفَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: emprego
Chinese: 工作
Croatian: posao
Czech: práce
Danish: job
Dutch: baan werk
European Spanish: empleo puesto
Finnish: työ työpaikka
French: emploi
German: Stelle Arbeit
Greek: δουλειά επάγγελμα
Italian: lavoro
Japanese: 職
Korean: 직업
Norwegian: jobb
Polish: praca
European Portuguese: emprego
Romanian: serviciu
Russian: работа
Latin American Spanish: empleo
Swedish: jobb
Thai: งาน
Turkish: iş
Ukrainian: робота
Vietnamese: công việc
All related terms of 'job'
day job
the job that a person during the day to earn a living, as opposed to some more glamorous activity such as being a singer , dancer, actor , writer that they aspire to make their main source of income
eye job
cosmetic surgery to remove wrinkles and loose skin round the eyes
hob-job
to do casual work or various small unskilled jobs
job-hop
to change jobs , esp frequently
job lot
A job lot is a number of cheap things of low quality which are sold together, for example in auctions or second-hand shops .
joe job
a dull unrewarding job or task
new job
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
blow job
an act or instance of fellatio
boob job
a surgical remodelling of the breasts for cosmetic reasons
chin job
a cosmetic operation to improve the shape of the chin
fine job
You use fine to describe something that you admire and think is very good.
good job
If you say that someone is doing a good job , you mean that they are doing something well . In British English , you can also say that they are making a good job of something.
great job
If you describe someone or something as great , you approve of them or admire them.
hand job
a sexual activity in which one person manually stimulates another's penis
job club
a group of unemployed people organized through a Jobcentre , which meets every day and is given advice on job seeking to increase its members' chances of finding employment
Job Corps
a Federal organization established in 1964 to train unemployed youths in order to make it easier for them to find work
job hunt
a search for employment
job loss
the act or an instance of a person losing his or her job
job offer
an offer of employment
job queue
a list of documents that are waiting to be printed
job share
If two people job share , they share the same job by working part-time, for example one person working in the mornings and the other in the afternoons.
job title
a name that describes a person's job in an organization
nose job
A nose job is a surgical operation that some people have to improve the shape of their nose.
plum job
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
rush job
something created quickly, urgently, or without due care
snow job
an instance of deceiving or overwhelming someone with elaborate often insincere talk
whack job
an eccentric or foolish person
another job
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
bob-a-job
a fundraising activity that involved boy scouts knocking on doors and offering to do jobs for one shilling
decent job
Decent is used to describe something which is considered to be of an acceptable standard or quality.
hatchet job
To do a hatchet job on someone or something means to say or write something mentioning many bad things about them, which harms their reputation .
holiday job
a temporary job taken by a person during their holidays from school, college or university
inside job
a crime committed with the assistance of someone associated with the victim , such as a person employed on the premises burgled
job action
a temporary action by workers , such as refusing to work, usually undertaken because they are unhappy with their pay or working conditions, and intended to force the employer to improve these
job centre
In Britain, a job centre is a place where people who are looking for work can go to get advice on finding a job, and to look at advertisements placed by people who are looking for new employees .
job hopper
a person who job-hops
job hunting
the activity of searching for employment
job market
→ the job market
job search
a search for employment
job seeker
A job seeker is an unemployed person who is trying to get a job.
job sharing
the division of a job between two or more people such that each covers the same job for complementary parts of the day or week
job vacancy
a job which has not been filled
menial job
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
office job
a job based in an office, for example clerical or administrative work for an organization
proper job
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
skilled job
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
summer job
a job that a student does in the summer vacation
a snow job
lies and exaggerations, intended to deceive or flatter someone.
executive job
a job in which a person is responsible for the administration of a project , activity, or business
important job
A job is a particular task .
Chinese translation of 'job'
job
(dʒɔb)
n(c)
(= position) 工作 (gōngzuò) (份, fèn)
(= task) 任务(務) (rènwù) (项, xiàng)
⇒ We managed to finish the entire job in three months.我们花了3个月的时间完成了全部任务。 (Wǒmen huāle sān gè yuè de shíjiān wánchéngle quánbù rènwù.)
(= function) 职(職)责(責) (zhízé) (个(個), gè)
⇒ It's not my job to look after your children.给你看孩子不是我的职责。 (Gěi nǐ kān háizi bù shì wǒ de zhízé.)
Gladys got a job as a secretary格拉迪斯找到了一份秘书(書)工作。 (Gélādísī zhǎodào le yī fèn mìshū gōngzuò.)
it's a good job that ... 幸好 ... (xìnghǎo ... )
to do or (Brit) make a good job of sth把事情做好 (bǎ shìqing zuòhǎo)
I had a job finding it我好不容易才找到 (wǒ hǎo bù róngyì cái zhǎodào)
on the job[learn, teach]工作着(著) (gōngzuòzhe)
a part-time/full-time job半职(職)/全职(職)工作 (bànzhí/quánzhí gōngzuò)
he's only doing his job他只是在履行职(職)责(責) (tā zhǐshì zài lǚxíng zhízé)
it's just the job (Brit, inf) 正是想要的 (zhèngshì xiǎng yào de)
这(這)让(讓)他付出了生命/失去工作的代价(價) zhè ràng tā fùchūle shēngmìng/shīqù gōngzuò de dàijià
Gladys got a job as a secretary
格拉迪斯找到了一份秘书(書)工作。 Gélādísī zhǎodào le yī fèn mìshū gōngzuò.
he's not qualified for the job
他不胜(勝)任这(這)项(項)工作 tā bù shèngrèn zhè xiàng gōngzuò
to break the back of a job
度过(過)最艰(艱)难(難)的时(時)刻 dùguò zuì jiānnán de shíkè
a or one hell of a job/time etc
( inf ) 一份很难(難)的工作/一段难(難)熬的时(時)光 yī fèn hěn nán de gōngzuò/yī duàn nán'áo de shíguāng
the job is to go to someone else
这(這)份工作将(將)归(歸)别(別)人所得 zhè fèn gōngzuò jiāng guī biérén suǒ dé
to do or ( Brit ) make a good job of sth
把事情做好 bǎ shìqing zuòhǎo
but for his help/him, we wouldn't have finished the job
没(沒)有他的帮(幫)助/他,我们(們)还(還)没(沒)有完成工作呢 méiyǒu tāde bāngzhu/tā, wǒmen hái méiyǒu wánchéng gōngzuò ne
it's a good thing you were there, it's a good job you were there
( Brit ) 幸亏(虧)你在那儿(兒) xìngkuī nǐ zài nàr
1 (noun)
Definition
a person's occupation or paid employment
the pressure of being the first woman in the job
Synonyms
position
He took up a position with the Arts Council.
post
Sir Peter has held several senior military posts.
function
capacity
She was visiting in her official capacity as co-chairperson.
work
What kind of work do you do?
posting
calling
He was a serious man, dedicated to his calling as a physician.
place
All the candidates won places on the ruling council.
business
May I ask what business you are in?
office
the honour and dignity of the office of President
trade
He was a jeweller by trade.
field
career
She is now concentrating on a career as a fashion designer.
situation
activity
employment
She was unable to find employment in the area.
appointment
He is to take up an appointment as a researcher with the Society.
craft
All kinds of traditional crafts are preserved here.
profession
Harper was a teacher by profession.
occupation
I was looking for an occupation which would allow me to travel.
placement
vocation
the levels of knowledge and skill required for success in many vocations
livelihood
fishermen who depend on the seas for their livelihood.
métier
2 (noun)
Definition
a piece of work
Their main job is to preserve health rather than treat illness.
Synonyms
task
He had the unenviable task of breaking the bad news.
concern
The technical aspects are not my concern.
duty
My duty is to look after the animals.
charge
I did not consider it any part of my charge to come up with marketing ideas.
work
business
Parenting can be a stressful business.
role
His role in the events has been pivotal.
operation
a nationwide retail operation with an exceptional record of growth
affair
If you want to make a fool of yourself, that is your affair.
responsibility
The 600 properties were his responsibility.
function
The main function of merchant banks is to raise capital.
contribution
venture
a Russian-American joint venture
enterprise
Horse breeding is a risky enterprise.
undertaking
Organizing the show has been a massive undertaking.
pursuit
assignment
The course involves written assignments and practical tests.
stint
chore
I find gardening a real chore.
errand
I spent the morning running errands.
3 (noun)
Definition
a difficult task
(informal)
With all these different pensions, you're going to have a job to keep track.
Synonyms
difficulty
The main difficulty has been getting enough students to try out the scheme.
problem
the economic problems of the inner city
hassle (informal)
I don't think it's worth the money or the hassle.
trouble
You've caused a lot of trouble.
hard work
4 (noun)
Synonyms
consignment
lot
The receivers are keen to sell the stores as one lot.
share
I have had more than my share of adventures.
product
piece
They got a small piece of the net profits.
commission
contract
output
portion
his portion of the inheritance
assignment
The state prohibited the assignment of licences to competitors.
batch
the current batch of trainee priests
allotment
His meagre allotment of gas had to be saved for emergencies.
idioms
See jobs for the boys
See just the job
Quotations
If you have a job without aggravations, you don't have a job [Malcolm S. Forbes]Everyone sees life through their job. To the doctor the world is a hospital, to the broker it is a stock exchange, to the lawyer a vast criminal court [Alasdair Gray – Janine]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affair
Definition
a thing to be done or attended to
If you want to make a fool of yourself, that is your affair.
Synonyms
concern,
problem,
business,
matter,
worry,
responsibility,
look-out,
headache (informal)
in the sense of allotment
His meagre allotment of gas had to be saved for emergencies.
Synonyms
assignment,
share,
measure,
grant,
allowance,
portion,
quota,
lot,
ration,
allocation,
stint,
appropriation,
stipend,
apportionment
in the sense of appointment
Definition
the job or position to which a person is appointed
He is to take up an appointment as a researcher with the Society.
Synonyms
job,
office,
position,
post,
situation,
place,
station,
employment,
assignment,
berth (informal)
Synonyms of 'job'
job
Explore 'job' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assignment
Definition
something that has been assigned, such as a task
The course involves written assignments and practical tests.
Synonyms
task,
work,
job,
charge,
position,
post,
commission,
exercise,
responsibility,
duty,
mission,
appointment,
undertaking,
occupation,
chore
in the sense of assignment
Definition
the act of assigning
The state prohibited the assignment of licences to competitors.
Synonyms
giving,
issuing,
grant,
distribution,
allocation,
earmarking,
allotment,
designation,
consignment,
dealing out,
assignation,
apportionment
in the sense of batch
Definition
a group of similar objects or people dispatched or dealt with at the same time
the current batch of trainee priests
Synonyms
group,
set,
lot,
crowd,
pack,
collection,
quantity,
bunch,
accumulation,
assortment,
consignment,
assemblage,
aggregation
in the sense of business
Definition
a trade or profession
May I ask what business you are in?
Synonyms
profession,
work,
calling,
job,
line,
trade,
career,
function,
employment,
craft,
occupation,
pursuit,
vocation,
métier
in the sense of business
Definition
an affair
Parenting can be a stressful business.
Synonyms
matter,
issue,
subject,
point,
problem,
question,
responsibility,
task,
duty,
function,
topic,
assignment
in the sense of calling
Definition
a profession or occupation, esp. a caring one
He was a serious man, dedicated to his calling as a physician.
Synonyms
profession,
work,
business,
line,
trade,
career,
mission,
employment,
province,
occupation,
pursuit,
vocation,
walk of life,
life's work,
métier
in the sense of capacity
Definition
a position or function
She was visiting in her official capacity as co-chairperson.
Synonyms
function,
position,
role,
post,
appointment,
province,
sphere,
service,
office
in the sense of career
Definition
the series of jobs in a profession or occupation that a person has through his or her life
She is now concentrating on a career as a fashion designer.
Synonyms
occupation,
calling,
employment,
pursuit,
vocation,
livelihood,
life's work
in the sense of charge
Definition
a person or thing committed to someone's care
I did not consider it any part of my charge to come up with marketing ideas.
Synonyms
duty,
office,
concern,
responsibility,
remit
in the sense of chore
Definition
an unpleasant task
I find gardening a real chore.
Synonyms
task,
job,
duty,
burden,
hassle (informal),
fag (informal),
errand,
no picnic
Additional synonyms
in the sense of concern
Definition
something that is of interest or importance to a person
The technical aspects are not my concern.
Synonyms
business,
job,
charge,
matter,
department,
field,
affair,
responsibility,
task,
mission,
pigeon (informal)
in the sense of craft
Definition
an occupation requiring skill or manual dexterity
All kinds of traditional crafts are preserved here.
Synonyms
occupation,
work,
calling,
business,
line,
trade,
employment,
pursuit,
vocation,
handiwork,
handicraft
in the sense of duty
Definition
a obligation to fulfil one's responsibilities
My duty is to look after the animals.
Synonyms
responsibility,
job,
task,
work,
calling,
business,
service,
office,
charge,
role,
function,
mission,
province,
obligation,
assignment,
pigeon (informal),
onus
in the sense of employment
Definition
a person's work or occupation
She was unable to find employment in the area.
Synonyms
job,
work,
business,
position,
trade,
post,
situation,
employ,
calling,
profession,
occupation,
pursuit,
vocation,
métier
in the sense of enterprise
Definition
a project or undertaking, esp. one that requires boldness or effort
Horse breeding is a risky enterprise.
Synonyms
venture,
operation,
project,
adventure,
undertaking,
programme,
pursuit,
endeavour
in the sense of errand
Definition
a short trip to get or do something for someone
I spent the morning running errands.
Synonyms
job,
charge,
commission,
message (Scottish),
task,
mission
in the sense of function
Definition
the intended role or purpose of a person or thing
The main function of merchant banks is to raise capital.
Synonyms
purpose,
business,
job,
concern,
use,
part,
office,
charge,
role,
post,
operation,
situation,
activity,
exercise,
responsibility,
task,
duty,
mission,
employment,
capacity,
province,
occupation,
raison d'être
in the sense of hassle
Definition
a great deal of trouble
I don't think it's worth the money or the hassle.
Synonyms
trouble,
problem,
difficulty,
upset,
bother,
grief (informal),
trial,
struggle,
uphill (South Africa),
inconvenience
in the sense of livelihood
Definition
one's job or other source of income
fishermen who depend on the seas for their livelihood.
Synonyms
occupation,
work,
employment,
means,
living,
job,
maintenance,
subsistence,
bread and butter (informal),
sustenance,
(means of) support,
(source of) income
in the sense of lot
Definition
to join with voluntarily and share the fortunes of someone
The receivers are keen to sell the stores as one lot.
Synonyms
share,
group,
set,
piece,
collection,
portion,
parcel,
batch
Additional synonyms
in the sense of occupation
Definition
a person's job or profession
I was looking for an occupation which would allow me to travel.
Synonyms
job,
work,
calling,
business,
line (of work),
office,
trade,
position,
post,
career,
situation,
activity,
employment,
craft,
profession,
pursuit,
vocation,
livelihood,
walk of life
in the sense of office
Definition
a position of trust or authority, as in a government
the honour and dignity of the office of President
Synonyms
post,
place,
role,
work,
business,
service,
charge,
situation,
commission,
station,
responsibility,
duty,
function,
employment,
capacity,
appointment,
occupation
in the sense of operation
a nationwide retail operation with an exceptional record of growth
Synonyms
business,
concern,
firm,
organization,
corporation,
venture,
enterprise,
oper8n
in the sense of piece
They got a small piece of the net profits.
Synonyms
share,
cut (informal),
slice,
percentage,
quantity,
portion,
quota,
fraction,
allotment,
subdivision
in the sense of place
All the candidates won places on the ruling council.
Synonyms
job,
position,
post,
situation,
office,
employment,
appointment,
berth (informal),
billet (informal)
in the sense of portion
Definition
a part belonging to a person or group
his portion of the inheritance
Synonyms
share,
division,
allowance,
lot,
measure,
quantity,
quota,
ration,
allocation,
allotment
in the sense of post
Definition
a position to which a person is appointed
Sir Peter has held several senior military posts.
Synonyms
job,
place,
office,
position,
situation,
employment,
appointment,
assignment,
berth (informal),
billet (informal)
in the sense of problem
Definition
something or someone that is difficult to deal with
the economic problems of the inner city
Synonyms
difficulty,
trouble,
dispute,
plight,
obstacle,
dilemma,
headache (informal),
disagreement,
complication,
predicament,
quandary,
turf war (informal)
in the sense of profession
Definition
a type of work that requires special training, such as in law or medicine
Harper was a teacher by profession.
Synonyms
occupation,
calling,
business,
career,
employment,
line,
office,
position,
sphere,
vocation,
walk of life,
line of work,
métier
in the sense of responsibility
Definition
a person or thing for which one is responsible
The 600 properties were his responsibility.
Synonyms
duty,
business,
job,
role,
task,
function,
burden,
liability,
accountability,
onus,
answerability
Additional synonyms
in the sense of role
Definition
a task or function
His role in the events has been pivotal.
Synonyms
job,
part,
position,
post,
task,
duty,
function,
office,
capacity
in the sense of share
Definition
a part or portion of something that belongs to or is contributed by a person or group
I have had more than my share of adventures.
Synonyms
part,
portion,
quota,
ration,
lot,
cut (informal),
due,
division,
contribution,
proportion,
allowance,
whack (informal),
allotment
in the sense of situation
Definition
a position of employment
Synonyms
job,
place,
office,
position,
post,
employment,
berth (informal)
in the sense of trade
Definition
a specified market or business
He was a jeweller by trade.
Synonyms
job,
employment,
calling,
business,
line,
skill,
craft,
profession,
occupation,
pursuit,
line of work,
métier,
avocation
in the sense of trouble
Definition
difficulties or problems
You've caused a lot of trouble.
Synonyms
bother,
problems,
concern,
worry,
stress,
difficulty,
anxiety,
distress,
grief (British, South Africa),
irritation,
hassle (informal),
strife,
inconvenience,
unease,
disquiet,
annoyance,
agitation,
commotion,
unpleasantness,
vexation
in the sense of undertaking
Definition
a task or enterprise
Organizing the show has been a massive undertaking.
Synonyms
task,
business,
operation,
project,
game,
attempt,
effort,
affair,
venture,
enterprise,
endeavour
in the sense of venture
Definition
a project or activity that is risky or of uncertain outcome
a Russian-American joint venture
Synonyms
undertaking,
project,
enterprise,
chance,
campaign,
risk,
operation,
activity,
scheme,
task,
mission,
speculation,
gamble,
adventure,
exploit,
pursuit,
fling,
hazard,
crusade,
endeavour
in the sense of vocation
Definition
a specified profession or trade
the levels of knowledge and skill required for success in many vocations