profess
profess — verb
- professpresent simple I / you / we / they
- professeshe / she / it
- professedpast simple
- professing-ing form
1. To describe a feeling, opinion, or fact as true when other people suspect you ma
To describe a feeling, opinion, or fact as true when other people suspect you may not be being honest.
Felipe professed his loyalty to the group, but no one really believed him.
profess + noun phrase indicating a claimed attitude
The mayor professed to care about small businesses while cutting their funding.
profess + to-infinitive for claimed intention
Omar professed ignorance of the missing documents, though the evidence proved otherwise.
Marco professed deep admiration for the novelist, yet he returned her book to the library unfinished.
Several executives professed surprise at the investigation, though emails showed they knew about it.
文法句型
profess + to-infinitive
profess + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often implies that the speaker may not mean what they say. The to-infinitive pattern (profess to be, profess to care) is common in formal writing and journalism.
常見錯誤
2. To state a belief, feeling, or opinion clearly and publicly, usually with sincer
To state a belief, feeling, or opinion clearly and publicly, usually with sincerity.
Naoko professed her love for traditional music in a radio interview last year.
profess + noun phrase expressing a feeling
Dr. Mensah professed that she would never accept a job that required her to move away from her family.
profess + that-clause for a stated opinion
The artist professed great respect for the older painters who had taught him in his youth.
Meera professed a deep interest in ancient Roman history and began studying Latin at the age of forty.
In her opening speech, the chairperson professed confidence that the committee would reach an agreement soon.
文法句型
profess + that-clause
profess + noun phrase
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (CLAIM INSINCERELY), this sense carries no suggestion of falsehood. The distinction depends on context — look for clues about the speaker's sincerity in the surrounding text.
常見錯誤
3. To declare that you believe in and follow a particular religion or system of bel
To declare that you believe in and follow a particular religion or system of beliefs.
More than seventy percent of the population professes Buddhism.
profess + name of religion for formal affiliation
Aarav grew up in a Hindu family, and he still professes that faith today.
The new law required all public officials to profess a recognised religion before taking office.
Harper professed a firm belief in the principles of non-violence taught by the civil rights movement.
The poet never openly professed any religion, but his work was full of spiritual ideas and images.
文法句型
profess + religion/faith/belief
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense carries no implication of insincerity — it describes genuine membership or commitment. The object is typically a named religion (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism) or the word 'faith'.
常見錯誤
4. To practice a profession or to teach a subject at a university, especially as a
To practice a profession or to teach a subject at a university, especially as a professor.
Sivan professed law for over thirty years before retiring to write legal textbooks.
profess + field of study as a career
The vicar had professed medicine at the university before deciding to join the church.
Christopher professed ancient history at Oxford for two decades and trained hundreds of students.
Dr. Yael professed organic chemistry at the University of São Paulo for over fifteen years.
The scholar professed philosophy at several European universities during her long career abroad.
- teach
less formal, more common in everyday use
- practice
used for professions like law and medicine
- lecture in
specific to university teaching
文法句型
profess + field/profession
profess + at + institution
用法筆記
This sense is quite formal and somewhat old-fashioned. The meaning 'to teach as a professor' is the most common sub-sense in academic writing, while 'to practice a profession' appears mainly in historical contexts.
5. To join a group of people living a religious life by making a sacred promise, or
To join a group of people living a religious life by making a sacred promise, or to accept someone into such a group after they make that promise.
Iris was professed as a nun at the age of twenty-two after completing her training.
passive: be professed as + role
The brothers were professed into the Franciscan order in a quiet hillside ceremony.
passive: be professed into + order
After five years in the monastery, Minh professed final vows before the entire community.
Élise professed as a Benedictine sister and spent the rest of her life at the abbey in the mountains.
The congregation welcomed three new members who had recently professed their religious vows.
- take vows
more common, less formal
- enter a religious order
descriptive phrase
- become a monk or nun
general meaning, not specific to the ritual
- leave a religious order
to stop being a monk or nun
- be laicised
formal; to be released from religious vows
文法句型
be professed as + role
be professed into + order
profess + vows
用法筆記
A specialised term in Catholic and other Christian monastic traditions. The person is 'professed' (passive) by the community, or they actively 'profess' their vows. Distinguish from sense 3 (PROFESS FAITH): this sense refers to the ritual act of entering monastic life, not simply declaring a belief.