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
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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
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Recent Examples of occupations
Researchers found that a sizable share of new entrants into the healthcare industry in recent years were previously outside of the labor force or pivoted from non-health occupations.
—
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
An analysis of federal employment data, paired with a deep dive into the flexible work arrangements at one unnamed Fortune 500 tech company, reveals that companies are less likely to hire recent college grads into occupations that can be done remotely.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 June 2026
An Israeli soldier has been killed and multiple more were injured as the Israel Defense Forces holds onto a historic fort in Lebanon that has become a symbol of the country’s previous occupations.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2026
The failure of these occupations should raise alarms in Israel.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 1 June 2026
But the lesson is not simply that cheaper tools create more and different types of demand and with that new occupations.
—Christopher Marquis, Time, 30 May 2026
If a software developer and marketing director are doing the same tasks because AI makes that possible, Richardson doesn’t group those under two different occupations as the old framework would have.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 May 2026
In a report for the left-leaning Brookings Institution in March, Kolko said different studies had set forth inconsistent definitions of occupations deemed vulnerable to AI disruption.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 May 2026
As occupations increasingly fragment into evolving tasks and responsibilities, the more important question may be which skills remain valuable across changing roles and industries.
—Ulrich Boser, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
An analysis of federal employment data, paired with a deep dive into the flexible work arrangements at one unnamed Fortune 500 tech company, reveals that companies are less likely to hire recent college grads into occupations that can be done remotely.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 June 2026
An Israeli soldier has been killed and multiple more were injured as the Israel Defense Forces holds onto a historic fort in Lebanon that has become a symbol of the country’s previous occupations.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2026
The failure of these occupations should raise alarms in Israel.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 1 June 2026
But the lesson is not simply that cheaper tools create more and different types of demand and with that new occupations.
—Christopher Marquis, Time, 30 May 2026
If a software developer and marketing director are doing the same tasks because AI makes that possible, Richardson doesn’t group those under two different occupations as the old framework would have.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 May 2026
In a report for the left-leaning Brookings Institution in March, Kolko said different studies had set forth inconsistent definitions of occupations deemed vulnerable to AI disruption.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 May 2026
As occupations increasingly fragment into evolving tasks and responsibilities, the more important question may be which skills remain valuable across changing roles and industries.
—Ulrich Boser, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupations
Noun
-
Many of the Acts the Department administers have sunset provisions, which provide opportunities for the Department to work closely with our licensed professions and industries to make technical changes and language modernizations.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
On top of that, hiring demand has slowed in professions that typically attract advanced-degree holders, such as tech and finance.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Several hospitality operators in India confirmed the trend and are reporting sharp improvement in occupancies and room prices from May onwards.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
-
Those same dates the previous year saw occupancies of 54%, 78%, and 83%, respectively.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Catholics represent about 29% of the population, and the country is a major source of growth and priestly vocations for the church.—
Claudio Lavanga,
NBC news,
17 Apr. 2026
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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
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
-
Her pursuit of art has led her to study sculpture in Venice, Italy, and to residencies in large urban centers in Europe, including Luxembourg and Paris, France.—
Tom Cherveny,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
-
This includes expanding investments in teacher residencies, reducing barriers to credentialing and providing ongoing support to help educators enter and stay in the profession.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
But if Aberdeen isn’t eligible and Urban Klavzar joins the returning four starters, that lineup combo was dominant in a small sample size last year, outscoring opponents by 64 points in 89 possessions on the floor together, per CBB Analytics.—
CJ Moore
June 2,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
The Eternal Values promise Mierers lured followers in with discussions of enlightenment and mental clarity, often revolving around diet, exercise, celibacy, and the willingness to give up material possessions.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occupations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupations. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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