a profound sense — deep feeling (collocation)
collocationC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
used to describe a very strong and deeply felt emotion or awareness, often about something important or meaningful.
Say it like a native
Textbook She experienced a deeply penetrating sense of loss.
Native She felt a profound sense of loss.
'Deeply penetrating sense' is overwrought; 'a profound sense of' is the set collocation.
Pattern: a profound sense of + noun
In use
- After volunteering abroad, she was left with a profound sense of gratitude for everything she had.daily life
- One experience that changed my perspective was moving to a new country, which gave me a profound sense of independence and resilience.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ a profound sense for loss.
✓ a profound sense of loss.
'A sense OF [emotion]', not 'for'.
Common collocations
a profound sense of— of loss, of relief, of pride, of injustice
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'a strong sense' or 'a deep sense', 'a profound sense' suggests an emotion or awareness that is not only intense but also deeply meaningful or life-changing.