Profound

/prəˈfaʊnd/ adjective

Definition

Profound describes something very deep, intense, or meaningful, such as a strong emotion or a powerful idea.

Etymology

From Latin *profundus* 'deep', from *pro-* 'forth' and *fundus* 'bottom'. It first referred to physical depth, like deep water, before shifting to emotional and intellectual depth.

Kelly Says

When we say a thought is 'profound', we’re literally calling it 'bottomless'. The word invites you to imagine diving down into an idea the way you’d dive into the deep ocean—you can’t see the bottom, but you feel the pressure.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.