1
as in professions
the activity by which one regularly makes a living
my primary occupation is stockbroker, but I'm a drummer in a rock band on the weekends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in occupancies
the act or fact of residing in a place
occupation of a condemned building is illegal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of occupations
In the Loyola Marymount poll, unlike the other polls, respondents were given brief descriptions of the candidates, including their occupations and political priorities.
—
Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
There’s currently a dire shortage of electricians, and employment in the profession is expected to grow by 9% through 2034, well above the average growth for all occupations.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Workers qualify only in accordance with occupations specified by the Treasury Department.
—Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Even within occupations, there are disparities.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
The irony of two men in dangerous occupations discussing clothing is a delightful Sandford touch.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Despite their beauty, the plants have witnessed the island’s brutal past, from the disappearance of its indigenous people to the violent colonial occupations fueled by the enslavement of Africans people.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
While the ability of AI tools to steam engine entire human occupations remains a subject of heated debate, a sobering reality is starting to settle in.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
Internationally, steadily increasing involvement and influence of women in government and other occupations across the board is also taking place.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
There’s currently a dire shortage of electricians, and employment in the profession is expected to grow by 9% through 2034, well above the average growth for all occupations.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Workers qualify only in accordance with occupations specified by the Treasury Department.
—Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Even within occupations, there are disparities.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
The irony of two men in dangerous occupations discussing clothing is a delightful Sandford touch.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Despite their beauty, the plants have witnessed the island’s brutal past, from the disappearance of its indigenous people to the violent colonial occupations fueled by the enslavement of Africans people.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
While the ability of AI tools to steam engine entire human occupations remains a subject of heated debate, a sobering reality is starting to settle in.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
Internationally, steadily increasing involvement and influence of women in government and other occupations across the board is also taking place.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupations
Noun
-
Alexander said the skills involved mirror those found in other professions.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
No one saw that a device for making phone calls would conjure entirely new professions—UX designers, mobile platform engineers, social media managers, gig economy drivers—millions of jobs that had no name and no precedent.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Homes built closely on zero lot lines with dense suburban single- and multi-family occupancies place families and homes in the path of bigger, louder and stronger fireworks.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Roughly half reached new peak occupancies either in June or July.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The only solution for job seekers would be to specialize in vocations that AI cannot easily replicate, such as highly skilled trades, or to work in industries where consumers put a premium on human interaction.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Invest in fiction written by humans and so support human creativity, vocations, and organic economies?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Wild elephants often stray into human habitations this time of year, when rice fields are ready for harvesting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Such defensive settlements became the norm in areas vulnerable to slave-raiding, with individual houses and collective habitations undergoing significant transformations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Chefs Olivia López and Jonathan Percival launched Molino Olōyō out of a commercial kitchen in 2021, which evolved into a taco pop-up and various residencies, earning them a nod on Texas Monthly’s Top 50 Tacos in 2024.—
Kate Kassin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Nothing’s Going to Happen to Me boasts the most elaborate visual universe of any Mitski album to date, and extended residencies in New York, Los Angeles, and Sydney, Australia, present the opportunity for production and stage design to match.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Toward the stuff that holds up even when the shots don’t fall, and toward the way Knueppel carries himself within possessions.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Heat’s zone worked on several second-half possessions, but Miami still allowed too many open threes -- and had too many defensive breakdowns -- when the game was decided in the fourth quarter.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occupations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupations. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
