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

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of profess¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of profess¹

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

Example Sentences

I cannot profess to much success in the way of viral fame.

From Los Angeles Times

Many ordinary people profess a lack of interest in the election outcome, believing it will have little impact on their daily lives.

From Los Angeles Times

While I doubt that Trump's ever read a treatise on the Great Replacement theory, he's fully on board with it and we know that because he's recently promised to deport the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, despite the fact that they are here legally, are working at jobs that others didn't want and profess to love America.

From Salon

After Monday, nobody involved in this series can profess to know anything about anything.

From Los Angeles Times

All profess a strong belief that they’re sowing the seeds for a better future; some say it to urge themselves onward.

From Salon

Related Words

• acknowledge
• admit
• affirm
• avow
• confess
• feign
• pretend
• proclaim
• stump