Word forms: comparative profounder, superlative profoundest
1. adjective
You use profound to emphasize that something is very great or intense.
[emphasis]
...discoveries which had a profound effect on many areas of medicine.
...profound disagreement.
The overwhelming feeling is just deep, profound shock and anger.
Anna's patriotism was profound.
Synonyms: sincere, acute, intense, great More Synonyms of profound
profoundlyadverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective/-ed]
This has profoundly affected my life.
In politics, as in other areas, he is profoundly conservative.
Synonyms: greatly, very, deeply, seriously [informal] More Synonyms of profound
2. adjective
A profound idea, work, or person shows great intellectual depth and understanding.
This is a book full of profound, original and challenging insights.
...one of the country's most profound minds.
Synonyms: wise, learned, serious, deep More Synonyms of profound
More Synonyms of profound
profound in British English
(prəˈfaʊnd)
adjective
1.
penetrating deeply into subjects or ideas
a profound mind
2.
showing or requiring great knowledge or understanding
a profound treatise
3.
situated at or extending to a great depth
4.
reaching to or stemming from the depths of one's nature
profound regret
5.
intense or absolute
profound silence
6.
thoroughgoing; extensive
profound changes
noun
7. archaic or literary
a great depth; abyss
Derived forms
profoundly (proˈfoundly)
adverb
profoundness (proˈfoundness) or profundity (prəˈfʌndɪtɪ)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French profund, from Latin profundus deep, from pro-1 + fundus bottom
profound in American English
(proʊˈfaʊnd; prəˈfaʊnd)
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
noun
6. Archaic
an abyss or deep, as of the ocean
7.
something profound
Derived forms
profoundly (proˈfoundly)
adverb
profoundness (proˈfoundness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OFr profund < L profundus < pro-, forward (see pro-2) + fundus, bottom
Examples of 'profound' in a sentence
profound
So it does have a profound effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet there is something more profound going on here.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My ability to have a relationship like this is the most profound change.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It just had a profound effect on my life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But there has been another profound change.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Each has had a profound effect on the area and more widely.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is something that is profound, but that is the human journey.
Smithsonian Insider (2017)
I also hope there was something rather more profound going on.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For both of them it was a moment of profound shock.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are going to be profound areas of disagreement.
Christianity Today (2000)
Such changes will have profound effects on the global economy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The most effective political leaders are also those who have a profound understanding of the historical process.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Songs of profound depth were tinged with an irrepressible air of mischief.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Elsewhere there is a more profound overlap between books and games.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Sustainable dynasties rely on something more profound.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We live in a time of profound social pessimism.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One needed a very profound knowledge of convention and the current intrigues.
Kishlansky, Mark A. (editor) Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization, Volume 1: From the Beginningto 1715 (1995)
It is a narrative of profound depth and originality.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But is there something more profound going on with the weather?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is a very profound idea.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
And yet there will be profound sadness, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The destruction of Washington had been a profound shock.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
A more profound regret is his continuing absence from the best rides at the big meetings.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Such ideas have profound implications.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
profound
British English: profound ADJECTIVE
You use profound to emphasize that something is very great or intense.
...discoveries which had a profound effect on many areas of medicine.
American English: profound
Brazilian Portuguese: profundo
Chinese: 深刻的
European Spanish: profundo
French: profond
German: weitreichend
Italian: profondo
Japanese: 重大な
Korean: 지대한
European Portuguese: profundo
Latin American Spanish: profundo
All related terms of 'profound'
profound belief
Belief is a feeling of certainty that something exists, is true , or is good.
profound emotion
An emotion is a feeling such as happiness, love, fear , anger , or hatred , which can be caused by the situation that you are in or the people you are with.
profound influence
To have an influence on people or situations means to affect what they do or what happens .
profound questions
A question is a problem, matter, or point which needs to be considered.
profound importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
profound love of
Love is a strong liking for something, or a belief that it is important.
profound disappointment
Disappointment is the state of feeling disappointed .