profile
1 of 2noun
pro·file ˈprō-ˌfī(-ə)l 
1
: a representation of something in outline
especially : a human head or face represented or seen in a side view
2
: an outline seen or represented in sharp relief : contour
3
: a side or sectional elevation: such as
a
: a drawing showing a vertical section of the ground
b
: a vertical section of a soil from the ground surface to the underlying unweathered material
4
: a set of data often in graphic form portraying the significant features of something
a corporation's earnings profile
especially : a graph representing the extent to which an individual exhibits traits or abilities as determined by tests or ratings
5
: a concise biographical sketch
6
: degree or level of public exposure
trying to keep a low profile
a job with a high profile
profile
2 of 2verb
profiled; profiling
transitive verb
1
: to represent in profile or by a profile : produce (as by drawing, writing, or graphing) a profile of
2
: to shape the outline of by passing a cutter around
3
: to subject to profiling
profiler noun
Example Sentences
Noun His profile is very unusual. An image of the President's profile appears on the coin. I read a profile of her in a magazine. Verb The mayor was profiled in the magazine last month.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Isidore, CNN, 15 Sep. 2022 During those years, Rock emerged as one of the most high-profile celebrity backers of President Donald Trump. Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, 15 Sep. 2022 Born and raised in South Central, the 27-year-old Leo siblings are finding their place in front of the camera, with the shoots only getting more creative, and the campaigns more high-profile. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The Ducks are relative newcomers to college football prominence, but are probably the most high-profile program that has never faced Alabama even in a bowl game or at a neutral site (or at least is yet not scheduled to do so). Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2022 One of the more high-profile Democratic primaries will likely be the district of Rep. Larry Mitchell, the House majority whip, who is being challenged by progressive DeShanna Neal. Meredith Newman, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2022 Most notably, the former Prince Charles has inherited the most high-profile title after the death of his mother: King. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 And many of the most high-profile incidents have taken place downtown, in the heart of the city’s tourist district. George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022 The Lions will fight hard but the Eagles will prevail, especially with the debuting of their most high-profile addition; wide receiver AJ Brown. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2022 Caitlin Mclean, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The company had won political consulting work in the U.S. by offering to use data to profile and influence voters with political messages. Jennifer Hiller, WSJ, 27 Aug. 2022 They are arranged in no obvious order, skipping back and forth in time to profile the patients and the physicians who studied them, all the while drawing on ample primary sources. Lucinda Robb, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 Conservative media have also given Orban a platform, with Fox's Tucker Carlson traveling to Hungary for a week last year to profile the leader. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2022 Users simply need to pick one of their existing reels or posts, select the three dots in the upper right-hand corner, and pick pin to profile. Gene Marks, Forbes, 13 June 2022 California cops who racially profile, unlawfully use force or commit other misconduct could soon lose their badges. Justin Raystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 Here’s an example: How to enable the new kids profile feature? Chris Smith, BGR, 20 May 2022 However, Vivaldi vowed years ago not to track or profile customers. Chris Smith, BGR, 9 June 2022 See More
Noun
While most union contracts are ratified, there have been some very high-profile examples of angry union members voting no. Chris Isidore, CNN, 15 Sep. 2022 During those years, Rock emerged as one of the most high-profile celebrity backers of President Donald Trump. Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, 15 Sep. 2022 Born and raised in South Central, the 27-year-old Leo siblings are finding their place in front of the camera, with the shoots only getting more creative, and the campaigns more high-profile. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The Ducks are relative newcomers to college football prominence, but are probably the most high-profile program that has never faced Alabama even in a bowl game or at a neutral site (or at least is yet not scheduled to do so). Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2022 One of the more high-profile Democratic primaries will likely be the district of Rep. Larry Mitchell, the House majority whip, who is being challenged by progressive DeShanna Neal. Meredith Newman, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2022 Most notably, the former Prince Charles has inherited the most high-profile title after the death of his mother: King. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 And many of the most high-profile incidents have taken place downtown, in the heart of the city’s tourist district. George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022 The Lions will fight hard but the Eagles will prevail, especially with the debuting of their most high-profile addition; wide receiver AJ Brown. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2022 Verb
Intentionally misleading people on Twitter by changing your display name, bio, banner image, and/or profile image. Caitlin Mclean, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The company had won political consulting work in the U.S. by offering to use data to profile and influence voters with political messages. Jennifer Hiller, WSJ, 27 Aug. 2022 They are arranged in no obvious order, skipping back and forth in time to profile the patients and the physicians who studied them, all the while drawing on ample primary sources. Lucinda Robb, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 Conservative media have also given Orban a platform, with Fox's Tucker Carlson traveling to Hungary for a week last year to profile the leader. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2022 Users simply need to pick one of their existing reels or posts, select the three dots in the upper right-hand corner, and pick pin to profile. Gene Marks, Forbes, 13 June 2022 California cops who racially profile, unlawfully use force or commit other misconduct could soon lose their badges. Justin Raystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2022 Here’s an example: How to enable the new kids profile feature? Chris Smith, BGR, 20 May 2022 However, Vivaldi vowed years ago not to track or profile customers. Chris Smith, BGR, 9 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Italian profilo, from profilare to draw in outline, from pro- forward (from Latin) + filare to spin, from Late Latin — more at file
First Known Use
Noun
1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing profile
Kids Definition
profile
noun
pro·file ˈprō-ˌfīl
1
: something (as a head or a mountain) seen or drawn from the side
2
: a level of activity that draws attention
As an actress, she can't avoid a high profile.
Medical Definition
profile 1 of 2
noun
pro·file ˈprō-ˌfīl
1
: a set of data exhibiting the significant features of something and often obtained by multiple tests
the profile of CK isoenzymes in skeletal muscle A. J. Siegel & D. M. Dawson
A. J. Siegel & D. M. Dawson2
: a graphic representation of the extent to which an individual or group exhibits traits as determined by tests or ratings
this group did not give a homogeneous personality profile Diseases of the Nervous System
Diseases of the Nervous Systemprofile
2 of 2transitive verb
profiled; profiling
: to represent in profile or by a profile : produce a profile of (as by writing or graphing)
profile 1 of 2
noun
1
as in contour
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- contour
- configuration
- outline
- shape
- geometry
- silhouette
- form
- frame
- conformation
- organization
- fashion
- framework
- figure
- design
- pattern
- setup
- cast
- format
- plan
- shell
- skeleton
- layout
- arrangement
- makeup
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- material
- composition
- substance
- matter
- stuff
- raw material
2
as in character sketch
Synonyms & Similar Words
- character sketch
- obituary
- history
- bio
- past
- chronicle
- biography
- story
- psychobiography
- pathography
- autobiography
- hagiography
- tell-all
- memoir
- life
profile
2 of 2verb
as in to outline
to produce a representation of the shape of the head as seen from the side his likeness was profiled against a background of vegetation Synonyms & Similar Words
- outline
- picture
- draw
- caricature
- cartoon
- sketch
- ink
- pencil
- crayon
- scrawl
- scribble
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of profile are contour, outline, and silhouette. While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background.
a portrait of her face in profile
The synonyms contour and profile are sometimes interchangeable, but contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled.
a car with flowing contours
While the synonyms outline and profile are close in meaning, outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass.
traced the outline of his hand
In some situations, the words silhouette and profile are roughly equivalent. However, silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined.
photograph in silhouette against a bright sky