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- pronunciation:
- pr
fes
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Explorer, Grammatical Patterns, 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.[verb + (that) + clause
]
He professed to be an expert on the subject, but he seemed to know less than the rest of us.[verb + infinitive
]
- 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.[verb + (that) + clause
]
- 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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