employment

1 the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the employment of the kitchen oven as a storage cupboard had predictably disastrous results Synonyms application, use, exercise, operation, play, usageRelated Words exertion; reuseNear Antonyms disuse, nonuse

2 the activity by which one regularly makes a living his regular employment is that of a restaurant waiter, but he always identifies himself as an actor Synonyms calling, occupation, game, lay, line, profession, trade, vocation, workRelated Words call, lifework; business, enterprise, field, livelihood, living, métier (also metier), racket [slang]; assignment, engagement, gig, mission; art, craft, handcraft, handicraft; appointment, berth, billet, office, place, position, post, situation; duty, function, job, load, task, workloadNear Antonyms avocation, hobby, pursuit

3 the state of being provided with a paying job the parents tried to convey to their adult son the joys of steady employment Synonyms employ, hire, engagementRelated Words appointment, assignment, conscription, enlistment, recruitment; incumbency, tenure; occupation, place, position, post, situation, workNear Antonyms boot, discharge, dismissal, firing, removal, sack, severance; demotion, suspension; furlough, layoff, leave, liberty, retirementAntonyms joblessness, nonemployment, unemployment