profound

American  

[pruh-found, proh‐] / prəˈfaʊnd, proʊ‐ /

adjective

profounder, profoundest

1. penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge; having deep insight or understanding.

   a profound thinker.

   Synonyms:

   sagacious, deep

   Antonyms:

   superficial, shallow

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

3. being or going far beneath what is superficial, external, or obvious.

   profound insight.

4. of deep meaning; of great and broadly inclusive significance.

   a profound book.

5. pervasive or intense; thorough; complete.

   a profound silence.

6. extending, situated, or originating far down, or far beneath the surface.

   the profound depths of the ocean.

7. bending or passing far downward; low.

   a profound bow.

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noun

Literary.

1. something that is profound.

2. the deep sea; ocean.

3. depth; abyss.

profound British  

/ prəˈfʌndɪtɪ, prəˈfaʊnd /

adjective

1. penetrating deeply into subjects or ideas

   a profound mind

2. showing or requiring great knowledge or understanding

   a profound treatise

3. situated at or extending to a great depth

4. reaching to or stemming from the depths of one's nature

   profound regret

5. intense or absolute

   profound silence

6. thoroughgoing; extensive

   profound changes

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noun

1. archaic a great depth; abyss

Other Word Forms

• profoundly adverb
• profoundness noun
• unprofound adjective

Etymology

Origin of profound

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

Example Sentences

These trend lines may be good for work-life balance, but the downside for some is profound: Young workers say they’re missing out on opportunities to make friends and find mentors.

From The Wall Street Journal

The AI revolution will bring unprecedented productivity gains and profound societal transformation.

From MarketWatch

"Alpamayo represents a profound shift for NVIDIA, moving from being primarily a compute to a platform provider for physical AI ecosystems."

From BBC

Never mind the extreme elements of the support, regular fans - the vast, vast majority - feel a profound disconnection, an alienation from what is going on.

From BBC

Losing a spouse is a profound emotional blow, and it often triggers a second crisis: a financial fog of legal hurdles and hidden tax traps.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abject
• absolute
• acute
• deep
• deep-seated
• extensive
• extreme
• far-reaching
• great
• heartfelt
• sincere
• thorough
• utter