What does professing mean?
“Professing” means declaring something openly, especially a belief, feeling, intention, or personal claim. It is the present participle of the verb “profess,” and it can be used both to report sincere statements and to suggest that someone is making a show of support or claiming a quality without fully meaning it. For example, a person may be described as professing love, professing ignorance, or professing faith. The word often appears in formal and literary contexts, but it remains fully standard in ordinary conversation. Its central sense is public declaration rather than proof or verification: professing gratitude does not necessarily mean that the gratitude is sincere, while professing ignorance can mean either genuinely admitting not knowing something or merely claiming not to know. In media and political language, the potential suggestion of insincerity is especially important.
verb (present participle of profess)To state openly or declare publicly, especially a belief, feeling, intention, or claim. In some contexts, it can imply that the declaration is sincere or genuine, as in “professing innocence,” although it may also suggest that someone is merely claiming something.
- To declare or state openly a belief, feeling, intention, or claim.
- To claim to possess a quality, experience, or skill, whether or not the claim is genuine.
"She continued professing her admiration for the artist despite his controversial reputation."
"He is professing his love for the countryside."
"The company was professing its commitment to employee welfare while labor disputes continued."
The word “professing” began with a public declaration: a profession was not just a job, but something a person openly declared to be true.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does professing come from?
English “profess” entered through Old French from Latin “professus,” a form meaning “declared openly” or “avowed.” The Latin word was based on “pro-” and “fari,” meaning to speak or tell, and conveyed the idea of making a declaration publicly. “Professing” is the modern present-participle form of that inherited verb.
Related word forms
How professing is actually used
“Professing” is the present participle of “profess” and is commonly used after “to” or in the form “is professing.” Depending on context, it can be neutral, as in “professing gratitude,” or suggest that a claim may be exaggerated or insincere.
Easily confused with professing
“Professing” means declaring or claiming something openly, whereas “possessing” means having or owning something.