profess

verb

pro·​fess prə-ˈfes How to pronounce profess (audio)
prō-
professed; professing; professes
Synonyms of professnext

transitive verb

1
: to receive formally into a religious community following a novitiate by acceptance of the required vows
2
a
: to declare or admit openly or freely : affirm
b
: to declare in words or appearances only : pretend, claim
3
: to confess one's faith in or allegiance to
4
a
: to practice or claim to be versed in (a calling or profession)
b
: to teach as a professor

intransitive verb

1
: to make a profession or avowal
2
obsolete : to profess friendship

Examples of profess in a Sentence

He professes confidence in his friend. They profess loyalty to the king.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The promise is more audacious even than most who profess Christianity can fully understand. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2026 Witness after witness took to the stand and described interactions that seemed surprising for a man whose wife had just died - especially a man who professed to love her and claimed that the shooting was accidental. Lauren A. White, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 Off the court, Ivey has professed his faith before, but his recent social media videos took on a stronger tone, leading to his dismissal from the Bulls. Matthew Davis, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 Look, Emmel never professed to be perfect, which is also his point. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for profess

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, from Middle English, from profes, adjective, having professed one's vows, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin professus, from Latin, past participle of profitēri to profess, confess, from pro- before + fatēri to acknowledge; in other senses, from Latin professus, past participle — more at confess

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of profess was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Profess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profess. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

profess

verb
pro·​fess prə-ˈfes How to pronounce profess (audio)
1
: to declare openly or freely
profess confidence in a friend
2
: pretend entry 1 sense 1, claim
professed to be our friends

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