profound — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.

   Examples

   A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog

2. Very deep; very serious.

3. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough.

   Examples

   a profound investigation

   a profound scholar

   More examples (3)

   profound wisdom

   Where no motives of interest or pride intervene, none can equal them for profound and philosophical views of society, ….

   The most superficial phenomena are sometimes the most profound. Let us begin our analysis of [bourgeois] society … with the appearance of the clothes its members wore ….

4. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading.

   Examples

   How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

   Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.

   More examples (2)

   It’s probably one of the reasons the Shamima Begum case is having such a profound impact; one-dimensional stereotypes about Muslim women already run so deep.

   I visited the wreckage at Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield. Potters Bar and Heck, and the experiences had a profound effect on me - especially Ladbroke Grove.

5. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive.

   Examples

   And with this, and a profound bow to his patrons, the Manager retires, and the curtain rises.

   What humble gestures! What profound reverence!

Noun

1. The deep; the sea; the ocean.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   God, in the fathomlesse profound / Hath all his choice Commanders drown'd.

2. An abyss.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   […]if some other place, / From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King / Possesses lately, thither to arrive / travel this profound. Direct my course[…]

Verb

1. To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

2. To dive deeply; to penetrate.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   But no man is likely to profound tbe Ocean of that Doctrine

Adjective

1. showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth

   Antonyms

   superficial

   Examples

   the differences are profound

   a profound insight

   More examples (4)

   a profound book

   a profound mind

   profound contempt

   profound regret

2. of the greatest intensity; complete

   Examples

   a profound silence

   a state of profound shock

3. far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something

   Synonyms

   fundamental

   Examples

   the fundamental revolution in human values that has occurred

   the book underwent fundamental changes

   More examples (2)

   committed the fundamental error of confusing spending with extravagance

   profound social changes

4. coming from deep within one

   Examples

   a profound sigh

5. (of sleep) deep and complete

   Synonyms

   heavysoundwakeless

   Examples

   a heavy sleep

   fell into a profound sleep

   More examples (2)

   a sound sleeper

   deep wakeless sleep

6. situated at or extending to great depth; too deep to have been sounded or plumbed

   Synonyms

   unfathomedunplumbedunsounded

   Examples

   the profound depths of the sea

   unplumbed depths of the sea

   More examples (1)

   remote and unsounded caverns