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

• pretend
• assume
• simulate

Examples of profess in a Sentence

He professes confidence in his friend.

They profess loyalty to the king.

Recent Examples on the Web

Astrology has seemingly been making a popularity comeback of late, with Gen Z reportedly getting into horoscopes amid a surge of TikTokers and apps professing to read the stars. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025

How better to move your identity from finesse to physical than working against one of the toughest teams led by a coach who professes to eat kneecaps? Only on Saturday, in a workout of mostly backups, McDaniel dropped the demands toward a newer, tougher identity in the first half. —Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025

This isn't the first time the Bronx singer has professed her love of baggy denim, and what better time to wear them with a midriff-baring crop top than August? —Luz García, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2025

In a call to J & M’s corporate offices, the company professed not to know anything about it. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 6 Aug. 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