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

Regarding Pete Hegseth, who Trump nominated to run the Defense Department, an anonymous person linked to Trump's transition team professed "frustration" to the Washington Post, complaining, "He hadn’t been properly vetted."

From Salon

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

From Los Angeles Times

On Friday at the Old Bailey in London, Kucharski was jailed for two-and-a-half years with a further year on extended licence for professing to be a member of a proscribed terrorist organisation.

From BBC

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

Musk announced last weekend that he would award $1 million a day until the election to a randomly selected registered Pennsylvania voter who signs a petition professing support for the 1st and 2nd Amendments.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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