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Showing results for profound. Search instead for profoundest.
Synonyms

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.

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
"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

noun

  1. archaic a great depth; abyss

"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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The result was a profound insight into Verstappen's state of mind.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Ava, who is non-verbal, has profound learning disabilities and suffers from severe epilepsy.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Rousseau had earlier issued an apology over his English-only message, saying he was saddened that his limited French "has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families."

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

That reflects his profound lack of intellectual curiosity.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

In Sweden, the people I met were equally interested and responsive, even though they hadn't experienced profound need or shared struggle with an abusive justice system.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.