profess

verb

pro·​fess prə-ˈfes 

prō-

professed; professing; professes

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

Synonyms

• act
• affect
• assume
• bluff
• counterfeit
• dissemble
• fake
• feign
• pass (for)
• pretend
• put on
• sham
• simulate

Examples of profess in a Sentence

He professes confidence in his friend.

They profess loyalty to the king.

Recent Examples on the Web

The actress, producer, and fashion icon posted an Instagram video on May 19, 2025, professing her love for the makeup essential. —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 May 2025

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation Foundation Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation $49 Nordstrom Readers have once again professed their love for the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Foundation, a rare full-coverage formula that doesn't smother the skin and crack up by midday. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 15 May 2025

In recent months, Brand has taken to social media to profess his conversion to Christianity. —Andrew Limbong, NPR, 2 May 2025

You might feel called to profess your love, take next steps in your relationship, or start building your dream life in some actionable way. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025

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

Rhymes for profess

• abbess
• abscess
• access
• address
• assess
• caress
• confess
• depress
• digress
• distress
• egress
• excess

Kids Definition

profess

verb

pro·​fess prə-ˈfes 

1

: to declare openly or freely

profess confidence in a friend

2

: pretend entry 1 sense 1, claim

professed to be our friends