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- pronunciation:
- pr
fes
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
professes, professing, professed |
| definition 1: |
to claim or declare, esp. insincerely.
She professed sympathy but truly felt none.He professed an intimate knowledge of the city.They professed that they knew nothing of the murder.He professed to be an expert on the subject, but he seemed to know less than the rest of us.- synonyms:
- allege, claim, pretend to
- similar words:
- assume, declare, dissemble, fake, feign, plead, purport, simulate
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| definition 2: |
to acknowledge openly; affirm.
It was on this night that they professed their love.He professed his skepticism of the plan to his boss.She professed that it had always been her intention to crush the competition.- synonyms:
- affirm, avow
- similar words:
- acknowledge, admit, announce, asseverate, aver, avouch, confess, declare, own up to, plead, proclaim, pronounce
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| definition 3: |
to assert belief in.
The group professes Christianity.- synonyms:
- believe in
- similar words:
- avow, confess, embrace, practice, predicate
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| definition 4: |
to practice (a profession) or claim special knowledge of.
Our daughter intends to profess medicine.- similar words:
- know, practice, study
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| definition 5: |
to teach (a subject) at the college or university level.
He has professed history for twenty-five years at this college.- synonyms:
- teach
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| related words: |
affect, affirm, allege, assert, claim, contend, pretend, swear, testify, vow |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to make an open declaration.
- similar words:
- declare, pronounce
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| definition 2: |
to take vows as a member of a religious order.
- synonyms:
- take vows
- similar words:
- pledge, vow
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| related words: |
pretend |
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