job
Job (noun) means a paid position of regular employment. Example: “She finally landed a job at the local hospital.”
How to use job
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly, paid work or employment — but also any task, and informally a robbery.
Job (lowercase) meaning work is unrelated to Job the biblical figure — the connection is coincidental spelling, not etymology.
Word forms
- Singular
- jobs
- Plural
- jobs
- Past tense
- jobbed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She finally landed a _____ at the local hospital.
Etymology
From the Middle English phrase "jobbe of work" (a piece of work); ultimate origin uncertain.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “job” mean?
The word “job” means a paid position of regular employment. In plain terms, most commonly, paid work or employment — but also any task, and informally a robbery.
How do you pronounce “job”?
“Job” is pronounced job (/dʒɑb/ in IPA).
How do you use “job” in a sentence?
Here is “job” used in a sentence: “She finally landed a job at the local hospital.”
What part of speech is “job”?
Depending on how it is used, “job” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “job” come from?
The word “job” comes from Middle English. From the Middle English phrase "jobbe of work" (a piece of work); ultimate origin uncertain.
Is “job” a common word?
“Job” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “job” have?
“Job” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a paid position of regular employment.
What is the difference between a job and a career?
A job is a specific paid position — the particular role you hold, such as a cashier or a nurse. A career is the longer path of professional life, often spanning many jobs in the same field over years. You can change jobs several times while building a single career.
What is the difference between a job and work?
A job is a specific paid position of regular employment. 'Work' is the broader activity or effort itself, which can exist with or without pay — housework and volunteering are work but not jobs. In short, a job is something you have, while work is something you do.
What are the main types of job?
Jobs are often grouped by hours and arrangement: full-time and part-time roles, temporary or seasonal positions, permanent posts, and freelance or contract work. They can also be described by pay structure — salaried or hourly — or by field, such as manual, office, skilled, or professional work.
What is an example of a job?
Common examples include teacher, nurse, electrician, driver, shop assistant, and software developer. Each is a paid position of regular employment with defined duties and set hours. Almost any role someone is paid to do on an ongoing basis — from farming to accountancy — counts as a job.
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