as in professional
having or showing trained ability in a particular field of knowledge
All the the conference attendees thought of themselves as pro coders. He practiced hours on end in hopes of becoming a pro golfer.
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as in fan
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
She plays baseball like a pro.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pro
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The Caltech graduate legally purchased his weapons at South Bay gun dealers in Lawndale and Torrance, which has a reputation for being a relatively gun-friendly area within a more broadly pro-gun-control county and region.
—Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
All of those guys are just absolute pros.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2023
That matched the second-highest finish by a Sun Devil, the other coming from current PGA pro Jon Rahm in 2016.
—Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 27 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for pro
Adjective
To that point, NIL deals should function like endorsement deals signed by pro athletes, who are paid to lend their name, image, likeness, signature, voice, nickname or myriad other identifying traits that are commercially valuable.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The Caltech graduate legally purchased his weapons at South Bay gun dealers in Lawndale and Torrance, which has a reputation for being a relatively gun-friendly area within a more broadly pro-gun-control county and region.
—Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
The third-year pro knocked down four 3-pointers and shot 7 for 12 overall from the field while adding five rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
All of those guys are just absolute pros.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Preposition
The backstory: Since bringing in longtime pro Wayne Ferreira as coach and taking his game more seriously, Tiafoe has really transformed his career over the last couple years.
—Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2023
That matched the second-highest finish by a Sun Devil, the other coming from current PGA pro Jon Rahm in 2016.
—Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 27 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for pro
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pro
Adjective
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Sonny Styles walked into an auditorium at the Washington Commanders’ headquarters on Friday afternoon and did something unusual for a new professional football player.—
Les Carpenter,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, today begins a six-year window for you that will bring a change in your professional life, perhaps new opportunities.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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When the Dodgers public address announcer read the Cubs starting lineup, Dodgers fans vehemently booed Crow-Armstrong, a trend that continued before each at-bat and again Saturday when he was announced pregame.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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League handlers gave Heidenreich a chance to walk through the crowd and dap up the adoring fans.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Preposition
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Tuesday evening will conclude with a lavish White House state dinner, one of several high‑profile events planned for the week, which also includes stops in New York City and Virginia.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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In recent years, that includes a 2022 misdemeanor conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm, Cook County Circuit Court records show.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pro.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pro. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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