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profound definition

pro·found (prō fo̵und′, prə-)

adjective

  1. very deep or low a profound abyss, sleep, etc.
  2. marked by intellectual depth a profound discussion
  3. intensely felt profound grief
  4. thoroughgoing profound changes
  5. unbroken a profound silence

Etymology: ME < OFr profund < L profundus < pro-, forward (see pro-) + fundus, bottom

noun

  1. Archaic an abyss or deep, as of the ocean
  2. something profound

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

profound Synonyms

profound

modif.

  1. Physically deep

    fathomless, bottomless, subterranean; see deep 1.

  2. Intellectually deep

    learned, recondite, heavy, erudite, scholarly, abstruse, mysterious, sage, serious, sagacious, penetrating, discerning, knowing, wise, reflective, knowledgeable, intellectual, enlightened, thorough, informed, of great learning, immensely learned; see also intelligent 1, learned 2, solemn 1.

    Antonyms superficial*, shallow*, flighty. *

  3. Emotionally deep

    heartfelt, deep-felt, great; see intense.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

profound Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • say: Von Rad said something profound, " Outside of God there's nothing to fear.

Modifies a noun

  • implication: The ability to exchange data with any computer system in the world has profound security implications.

Modifying Another Word

  • potentially: The implications of buying medicines over the internet is potentially profound.

Infinitive complement

  • say: The Bible, and Mel Gibson's film, show that someone outside the church had something very profound to say about Jesus.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Using the Latin makes an ordinary word seem profound.

Preposition: in

  • way: In fact, you are often profound in a way that surprises yourself.

Preposition: than

  • anything: This is far more profound than anything that facile creation spiritualities have to offer.
profound usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

profound quotes

It is not that the French are not profound, but they all express themselves so well that we are led to take their geese for swans.

-Brooks,VanWyck

Clear writers, like clear fountains, do not seem so deep as they are; the turbid look the most profound.

-Landor,Walter Savage

Alles, was tief ist, liebt die Maske. Everything profound loves the mask.

-Nietzsche, FriedrichWilhelm

profound quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"profound." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/profound>

APA Style

profound. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/profound

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