profound

[ pruh-found, proh‐ ]

/ prəˈfaʊnd, proʊ‐ /

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See synonyms for: profound / profounds on Thesaurus.com

adjective, pro·found·er, pro·found·est.

penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge; having deep insight or understanding: a profound thinker.

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

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

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

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

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

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

noun Literary.

something that is profound.

the deep sea; ocean.

depth; abyss.

OTHER WORDS FOR profound

1 deep, sagacious.

See synonyms for profound on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR profound

1 shallow, superficial.

See antonyms for profound on Thesaurus.com

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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” (see found¹)

OTHER WORDS FROM profound

pro·found·ly, adverbpro·found·ness, nounun·pro·found, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use profound in a sentence

Once a footfall passed the gate, and she shrank back into her corner; but the steps died away and left a profounder quiet.
Summer|Edith Wharton
Art still profounder was perhaps shown in the configuration of the nose.
Sketches of the Fair Sex, in All Parts of the World|Anonymous
No man alive held the stale old adage of “Beauty when unadorned,” etc., in profounder scorn.
Sword and Gown|George A. Lawrence
It is rather the profounder advantage whereby the rhymes are freighted with such feeling as the very language keeps in store.
Ceres' Runaway|Alice Meynell

No note from the horn of an automobile broke forth in answer; there was only a profounder stillness.
"Persons Unknown"|Virginia Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for profound

profound

/ (prəˈfaʊnd) /

adjective

penetrating deeply into subjects or ideasa profound mind

showing or requiring great knowledge or understandinga profound treatise

situated at or extending to a great depth

reaching to or stemming from the depths of one's natureprofound regret

intense or absoluteprofound silence

thoroughgoing; extensiveprofound changes

noun

archaic, or literary a great depth; abyss

Derived forms of profound

profoundly, adverbprofoundness or profundity (prəˈfʌndɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for profound

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

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

profound

OTHER WORDS FOR profound

OPPOSITES FOR profound

Origin of profound

OTHER WORDS FROM profound

Words related to profound

How to use profound in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for profound

Derived forms of profound

Word Origin for profound