1. (v. t.) To make open declaration of, as of one's knowledge, belief, action, etc.; to avow or acknowledge; to confess publicly; to own or admit freely.

2. (v. t.) To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put on or present an appearance of.

3. (v. t.) To present to knowledge of, to proclaim one's self versed in; to make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a physician.

4. (v. i.) To take a profession upon one's self by a public declaration; to confess.

5. (v. i.) To declare friendship.

act act a part affect affirm allege announce annunciate argue assert assever asseverate assume aver avouch avow bluff claim confess confirm contend counterfeit cover up declare depose dissemble dissimulate enunciate express express the belief fake feign four-flush gammon have hold insist issue a manifesto lay down let on let on like maintain make a pretense make as if make believe make like manifesto offer play play a part play possum playact predicate present pretend pretext proclaim proffer pronounce protest protest too much purport put put forward put it put on say set down set forth sham simulate speak speak out speak up stand for stand on state submit swear tender utter vow warrant