profess

[ pruh-fes ]

/ prəˈfɛs /

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See synonyms for: profess / professed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to lay claim to, often insincerely; pretend to: He professed extreme regret.

to declare openly; announce or affirm; avow or acknowledge: to profess one's satisfaction.

to affirm faith in or allegiance to (a religion, God, etc.).

to declare oneself skilled or expert in; claim to have knowledge of; make (a thing) one's profession or business.

to teach as a professor: She professes comparative literature.

to receive or admit into a religious order.

verb (used without object)

to make a profession, avowal, or declaration.

to take the vows of a religious order.

OTHER WORDS FOR profess

1 claim, allege, purport, avow.

See synonyms for profess on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of profess

1400–50; late Middle English; back formation from professed

OTHER WORDS FROM profess

pre·pro·fess, verb (used with object)un·pro·fess·ing, adjective

How to use profess in a sentence

Since science does not profess to have a final truth, and in many areas freely admits its incomplete knowledge, Pascal’s wager can provide a useful method of deciding between two alternatives.
Vaccines Are the Safest Medical Procedure We Have. Make Your Wager Wisely - Facts So Romantic|Stuart Firestein|December 29, 2020|Nautilus
In 1929, Plomer received a party invitation from a man he had never met who professed to have enjoyed Turbott Wolfe — aspiring writer and journalist Ian Fleming.
The Mild-Mannered Poet Who Championed James Bond|Fiona Zublin|November 30, 2020|Ozy
Sure, many festive advertisers profess outwardly to be willing to pivot to digital this Christmas.
‘It’s difficult to make the right call’: The many faces of the U.K.’s coronavirus-era Christmas advertising|Seb Joseph|November 12, 2020|Digiday
In some cases, the same self-professed agents of change are, according to police, also the abusers.
Alaska’s “Him Too” Moment: When Politicians and Allies Come With Accusations of Their Own|by Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News and Greg Kim, KYUK|October 23, 2020|ProPublica

The question now for the self-professed challenger is how to achieve strong growth in two slow-to-modestly expanding businesses.
Keurig is a machine: How the beverage giant is leveraging A.I. to fuel growth|Shawn Tully|October 19, 2020|Fortune
She writes of being “ashamed” of disavowing feminism, professing ignorance of its meaning and mission.
Roxane Gay: Not Such a 'Bad Feminist' After All|Lizzie Crocker|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And most glaringly, the fabulously wealthy woman professing to shoulder the burdens of the poor.
Can Suze Orman Save America?|Adam Auriemma|November 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Michael Ben Ari was elected to the last Knesset openly professing Kahanist beliefs.
Banning Kahane Google App Won't Work|Zack Parker|July 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But, he went on, “The American point of view is that all nations professing a desire for peace and democracy should participate.”
Hillary's Farewell Speech: Read the Transcript|The Daily Beast|February 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Marco Rubio did his best Barack Obama impression Thursday, professing his profound belief in the American Dream.
WATCH VIDEO: Must-See Moments from the Republican National Convention|The Daily Beast Video|August 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Bernard, professing great alacrity, looked about him; but he still lingered near his companions.
Confidence|Henry James
Not one-third of mankind are professing Christians to-day, and of those not one in ten is a true Christian and a true believer.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
Yet no body of professing Christians are warranted in uniting in covenant with those who hold not the truth.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
But Maranham in its public acts took no notice whatever of the Prince, professing only to recognise the government of Lisbon.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
It has a tendency to give utterance to its intention, and that by professing the truth, that sinners may be won.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for profess

profess

/ (prəˈfɛs) /

verb

to affirm or announce (something, such as faith); acknowledgeto profess ignorance; to profess a belief in God

(tr) to claim (something, such as a feeling or skill, or to be or do something), often insincerely or falselyto profess to be a skilled driver

to receive or be received into a religious order, as by taking vows

Word Origin for profess

C14: from Latin prōfitērī to confess openly, from pro- 1 + fatērī to confess

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

profess

OTHER WORDS FOR profess

Origin of profess

OTHER WORDS FROM profess

Words related to profess

How to use profess in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for profess

Word Origin for profess