First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1profound
adjective pro·found \prə-ˈfau̇nd, prō-\
: having or showing great knowledge or understanding
: difficult to understand : requiring deep thought or wisdom
: very strongly felt
Full Definition of PROFOUND
1
a : having intellectual depth and insight b : difficult to fathom or understand
2
a : extending far below the surface b : coming from, reaching to, or situated at a depth : deep-seated <a profound sigh>
3
a : characterized by intensity of feeling or quality b : all encompassing : complete <profound sleep> <profound deafness>
— pro·found·ly \-ˈfau̇n(d)-lē\ adverb
— pro·found·ness \-ˈfau̇n(d)-nəs\ noun
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Examples of PROFOUND
- Here, for the first time, a journalist gains access to the archive of one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies in history. Its contents, as much literature as science, offer profound insight into the human condition—and into the brilliant, complex mind of the study's longtime director, George Vaillant. —Joshua Wolf Shenk, Atlantic, June 2009
- This isn't escapism, or denial of grief; it is acceptance of the facts of life, the map of profound relationship to the grief that is part of life … —Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
- The status of women, though probably the most profound single difference between the two civilizations, attracted far less attention than such matters as guns, factories and parliaments. —Bernard Lewis, What Went Wrong?, 2002
- Despite all the respect, it was hard not to feel a twinge of schadenfreude at O'Hara's fall from esteem, which had caused him profound bitterness. —Kingsley Amis, Memoirs, 1991
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Origin of PROFOUND
Related to PROFOUND
- Antonyms
- shallow, superficial
Rhymes with PROFOUND
abound, aground, around, astound, background, bloodhound, boozehound, brassbound, break ground, campground, chowhound, clothbound, come round, compound, confound, coonhound, deerhound, deskbound, dumbfound, earthbound, eastbound, elkhound, expound, fairground, fogbound, foot-pound, foreground, foxhound, gain ground, go-round, greyhound, half-bound, hardbound, hellhound, hidebound, high ground, homebound, horehound, housebound, icebound, impound, inbound, ironbound, lose ground, newfound, newshound, northbound, outbound, playground, pot-bound, propound, rebound, redound, renowned, resound, rockbound, rock hound, scent hound, sight hound, sleuthhound, smooth hound, snowbound, softbound, southbound, spellbound, staghound, stone-ground, stormbound, strikebound, surround, to ground, top round, unbound, unround, unsound, well-found, westbound, wolfhound, year-round
2profound
noun pro·found \prə-ˈfau̇nd, prō-\
Definition of PROFOUND
archaic : something that is very deep; specifically : the depths of the sea
Origin of PROFOUND
(see 1profound)
First Known Use: 1621
PROFOUND Defined for Kids
profound
adjective pro·found \prə-ˈfau̇nd\
Definition of PROFOUND for Kids
1
: having or showing great knowledge and understanding <a profound thinker>
2
: very deeply felt <profound sorrow>
— pro·found·ly adverb
Learn More About PROFOUND
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