A2adjective 1K

Professional

🇬🇧 UK /["/prəˈfeʃənl/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/prəˈfeʃənl/"]/

Meaning of Professional

doing something as a paid job rather than as a hobby

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

Professional in a sentence

• 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.

How to use Professional

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.

Related words

Collocations with Professional

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

Synonyms for Professional

• competent

Opposites of Professional

• amateur
• novice
• untrained

Common mistakes with Professional

• 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'.

Frequently asked questions about Professional

What does Professional mean?

A person who is trained and skilled in a job.

What is the definition of Professional?

doing something as a paid job rather than as a hobby

How do you use Professional in a sentence?

She is a professional violinist who performs in orchestras.

Can you give another example of Professional?

His professional skills have helped the company grow significantly.

What are synonyms for Professional?

Common alternatives include competent.

What is the opposite of Professional?

Opposite meanings include amateur, novice, untrained.

What words go with Professional?

It commonly pairs with be, become, go, fully, be, become, go, fully, be, keep something, remain, purely, strictly, be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very.

What are common mistakes when using Professional?

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'.

How do you pronounce Professional?

US: /["/prəˈfeʃənl/"]/, UK: /["/prəˈfeʃənl/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Professional?

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.

What CEFR level is Professional?

"Professional" is at A2 level on the CEFR scale.