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View synonyms for profess

profess

[ pruh-fes ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to lay claim to, often insincerely; pretend to:

    He professed extreme regret.

    Synonyms: avow, purport, allege, claim

  2. to declare openly; announce or affirm; avow or acknowledge:

    to profess one's satisfaction.

  3. to affirm faith in or allegiance to (a religion, God, etc.).
  4. to declare oneself skilled or expert in; claim to have knowledge of; make (a thing) one's profession or business.
  5. to teach as a professor:

    She professes comparative literature.

  6. to receive or admit into a religious order.


verb (used without object)

  1. to make a profession, avowal, or declaration.
  2. to take the vows of a religious order.

profess

/ prəˈfɛs /

verb

  1. to affirm or announce (something, such as faith); acknowledge

    to profess ignorance

    to profess a belief in God

  2. tr to claim (something, such as a feeling or skill, or to be or do something), often insincerely or falsely

    to profess to be a skilled driver

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


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Other Words From

  • prepro·fess verb (used with object)
  • unpro·fessing adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of profess1

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of profess1

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

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Example Sentences

Meanwhile, other Republicans who may be key to finding sufficient support for the Equality Act, professed to be unaware of the legislation when asked by the Blade.

Again and again, he called out the gap between Northerners’ professed anti-racism and their unwillingness to see, let alone address, deep inequalities at home.

On the one hand we have proudly professed the great principles of democracy, but on the other hand we have sadly practiced the very opposite of those principles.

From Time

Levchin professes not to be worried about such challenges, noting that any company in a thriving market will face competitors and price pressures.

From Fortune

You might think it odd that the hardcore Make America Great Again crowd would damage a beloved symbol of the country they profess to support.

Then one daring, possibly planted, spectator interrupted the show to profess her crush.

To them, a politician is supposed to play it safe and profess as his goals only those things that are potentially attainable.

Those who profess to know him well, display dismay that he could have such an extraordinary lapse in discipline and control.

Similarly, the thirty-nine framers at Philadelphia were allowed to profess their faith even in the public square.

But will his poetic voice that you profess to love so much change now that his political voice has?

The view of riches which socialists and suchlike people profess to take is entirely ill-considered.

Considering that Maude did not profess to love her husband very much, it was astonishing how keenly she felt this.

Do not believe this; be certain that those who profess such a doctrine are practising themselves the deceit they condemn so much.

I don't profess to know anything about business, but I flatter myself that I understand my fellow men.

Mr. Low, "they say, will profess attachment to the cause of liberty, but his sincerity is doubted."

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