profess

[ pruh-fes ]

/ prəˈfɛs /

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.

Nearby words

profane, profanity, profascist, profeminist, profert, profess, professed, professedly, profession, professional, professional association

Origin of profess

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

SYNONYMS FOR profess

1 claim, allege, purport, avow.

Related forms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for professing

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
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
But this handsome, media-friendly president is constantly discoursing and professing.
Is Obama Anti-American?|Rich Benjamin|September 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I am afraid of what you people can create,” professing concern “that some nut is going to be stirred up.
The Haunted CEO|Allan Dodds Frank|July 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Professing to do good to all as you have opportunity, be consistent in this matter.
Select Temperance Tracts|American Tract Society
A great majority of the teachers of our common schools are professing Christians.
In the School-Room|John S. Hart
Emissaries now came saying that the invasion was wholly unexpected, professing peaceful intentions, and asking for a parley.
The Old Northwest|Frederic Austin Ogg
Lefever, professing he would not drink alone, called for cigarettes.
Nan of Music Mountain|Frank H. Spearman
While professing to give the passages needful explanations, they had heaped upon them impenetrable obscurations.
Modern Skepticism: A Journey Through the Land of Doubt and Back Again|Joseph Barker

British Dictionary definitions for professing

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

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

Origin of profess

SYNONYMS FOR profess

Related forms

Examples from the Web for professing

British Dictionary definitions for professing

profess

verb

Word Origin for profess