profound

[ pruh-found, proh‐ ]
See synonyms for profound on Thesaurus.com
adjective,pro·found·er, pro·found·est.
  1. penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge; having deep insight or understanding: a profound thinker.

  2. originating in or penetrating to the depths of one's being: profound grief.

  1. being or going far beneath what is superficial, external, or obvious: profound insight.

  2. of deep meaning; of great and broadly inclusive significance: a profound book.

  3. pervasive or intense; thorough; complete: a profound silence.

  4. extending, situated, or originating far down, or far beneath the surface: the profound depths of the ocean.

  5. bending or passing far downward; low: a profound bow.

nounLiterary.
  1. something that is profound.

  2. the deep sea; ocean.

Origin of profound

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin profundus “deep, vast,” equivalent to pro- pro-1 + fundus “bottom” (see found1)

Other words for profound

Opposites for profound

Other words from profound

  • pro·found·ly, adverb
  • pro·found·ness, noun
  • un·pro·found, adjective

Words Nearby profound

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use profound in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for profound

profound

/ (prəˈfaʊnd) /


adjective
  1. penetrating deeply into subjects or ideas: a profound mind

  2. showing or requiring great knowledge or understanding: a profound treatise

  1. situated at or extending to a great depth

  2. reaching to or stemming from the depths of one's nature: profound regret

  3. intense or absolute: profound silence

  4. thoroughgoing; extensive: profound changes

noun
  1. archaic, or literary a great depth; abyss

Origin of profound

1
C14: from Old French profund, from Latin profundus deep, from pro- 1 + fundus bottom

Derived forms of profound

  • profoundly, adverb
  • profoundness or profundity (prəˈfʌndɪtɪ), noun

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