profound
pruh-FOWND
Profound (adj) means showing great depth of thought, understanding, or feeling. Example: “The film left a profound impression on everyone in the audience.”
adj
1
Showing great depth of thought, understanding, or feeling.
"The film left a profound impression on everyone in the audience."
"She made a profound observation about grief that stayed with him for years."
"The book had a profound effect on how he saw the world."
2
Very deep, in a physical or intense sense.
"The diver sank into the profound darkness at the bottom of the lake."
"A profound silence settled over the empty valley after the snow began to fall."
"He fell into a profound sleep after the long journey."
How to use profound
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery deep — whether that's deep thinking, deep feeling, or literal depth.
Common pairings
profound impact
profound sense of
profound truth
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- profounds
- Past tense
- profounded
- Comparative
- more profound
- Superlative
- most profound
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The film left a _____ impression on everyone in the audience.
Etymology
From Latin profundus, "deep," from pro- plus fundus ("bottom, foundation").
Synonyms
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deep
intense
penetrating
weighty
insightful
heartfelt
fundamental
unfathomed
sound
heavy
unplumbed
deep-grounded
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for profound
See all rhymes for profound →Frequently asked questions
What does “profound” mean?
The word “profound” means showing great depth of thought, understanding, or feeling. In plain terms, very deep — whether that's deep thinking, deep feeling, or literal depth.
How do you pronounce “profound”?
“Profound” is pronounced pruh-FOWND (/pɹəˈfaʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “profound” in a sentence?
Here is “profound” used in a sentence: “She made a profound observation about grief that stayed with him for years.”
What is another word for “profound”?
Words with a similar meaning to “profound” include deep-grounded.
What part of speech is “profound”?
“Profound” is an adjective.
Where does the word “profound” come from?
The word “profound” comes from Latin. From Latin profundus, "deep," from pro- plus fundus ("bottom, foundation").
Is “profound” a common word?
“Profound” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “profound” have?
“Profound” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: showing great depth of thought, understanding, or feeling.
What is the difference between 'profound' and 'deep'?
'Deep' is the everyday word for something far below the surface or emotionally intense, while 'profound' is more formal and usually describes great depth of thought, insight, or feeling. A profound remark shows serious intellectual or emotional depth, whereas 'deep' can be literal or figurative.
What is the difference between 'profound' and 'profuse'?
'Profound' means showing great depth of thought or feeling, while 'profuse' means plentiful or given in large amounts, as in profuse apologies. The words look similar but are unrelated in meaning.
What nouns commonly follow 'profound'?
'Profound' often pairs with nouns like effect, impact, influence, change, silence, and respect, as in a profound effect or a profound silence. These collocations emphasise something being deep, intense, or far-reaching.
When should you use 'profound' instead of 'deep'?
Use 'profound' when you want to stress intellectual or emotional depth in a more formal or emphatic way, such as a profound understanding. Use 'deep' for everyday descriptions, whether physical, like deep water, or figurative, like a deep voice.
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