A2adjective1K

Professional

UK /["/prəˈfeʃənl/"]/US /["/prəˈfeʃənl/"]/

Definition

doing something as a paid job rather than as a hobby

In simple words: A person who is trained and skilled in a job.

Examples

  • She is a professional violinist who performs in orchestras.
  • His professional skills have helped the company grow significantly.
  • It's important to maintain a professional attitude when dealing with clients.
  • After years of training, he finally became a professional athlete.
  • They hired a professional to design their website.

Usage notes

Used when describing someone with expertise or qualifications in a particular field. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though its use is more common in business and professional settings.

Grammar pattern

standalone description

Memory hint

Think of 'pro' as in 'pro athlete' — a professional is someone who excels at their job.

Collocations

  • be
  • become
  • go
  • fully
  • be
  • become
  • go
  • fully
  • be
  • keep something
  • remain
  • purely
  • strictly
  • be
  • look
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very

Synonyms

  • competent

Antonyms

  • amateur
  • novice
  • untrained

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'personal' — sometimes learners mix up these two words.
  • Using 'profession' instead of 'professional' — learners may say 'he is in a good profession' instead of 'he is a good professional'.