occupations

noun

plural of occupation
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

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 Meanwhile, demand for workers in occupations facing the largest shortages, from skilled trades to certain healthcare roles, is only going to grow. — Svenja Gudell, Fortune, 18 July 2026 Researchers chose the community because the women had lived remarkably similar lives, sharing comparable housing, nutrition and healthcare, along with similar occupations and social environments. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026 The agency estimates the state will need 540,000 workers in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, occupations in the decade to come. — Scott Cohn, CNBC, 9 July 2026 Headlines frequently highlight automation, workforce reductions, and predictions about which occupations may disappear in the years ahead. — Michael Edmondson, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 In Michigan, the state published a list of 267 occupations that were eligible, leaving it up to the colleges to decide which programs might be the best fit. — Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupations
  1. professions
  2. occupancies
  3. vocations
  4. habitations
  5. residencies
  6. possessions
Noun
  • By eliminating these roles, companies also risk removing traditional paths into professions.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 17 July 2026
  • Communities as distinct as Mexicans and Peruvians are overrepresented in blue-collar professions compared with non-Latino Americans.
    — Jack Herrera, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
Definition of professions
Noun
  • There were multiple offers and the property went under contract in about a month, a indicator that downtown apartment conversion projects in the last decade are attractive to investors who see occupancies remaining strong.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of occupancies
Noun
  • Businesspeople have visited schools to help students explore other routes, including community college and vocations such as HVAC technicians.
    — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2026
  • The article suggests that true mastery comes not from avoiding mistakes, but from operating at the edge of one's capacity, much like in demanding vocations such as sports or diving.
    — Ulrik Juul Christensen, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of vocations
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
Definition of habitations
Noun
  • In the past, Phish, Dead & Company, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, and the Backstreet Boys have all performed Sphere residencies.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2026
  • The proceeds from the sale will go towards fellowships, grants, and residencies.
    — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Definition of residencies
Noun
  • Throughout his time in Las Vegas, opponents poked rebounds out of his hands and stole possessions from the Bucks.
    — Eric Nehm, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • That means no social media accounts, personal possessions or handling money, and the practice of celibacy and modesty.
    — Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 17 July 2026
Definition of possessions

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Cite this Entry

“Occupations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupations. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on occupations

Nglish: Translation of occupations for Spanish Speakers

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