English Reference
adverb

professionally

adv.
US /pɹəˈfɛʃənəɫi/ UK /pɹəfˈɛʃənəli/ pro·fes·sion·al·ly

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    doing something as your main job for money, rather than as a hobby.

    performing an activity as one's primary vocation or for financial compensation.

    Simple

    She has been playing tennis professionally for over five years.

    In context

    After years of competing as an amateur, he finally decided to play professionally and joined the national circuit.

    Usage

    Often follows the verb it modifies, especially with verbs like 'play', 'act', or 'train'.

    vocationalfull time
    amateurly
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    behaving in a way that is polite, organized, and suitable for work.

    behaving or performing a task in a manner that meets the standards, ethics, or expectations of a workplace.

    Simple

    Even though the client was angry, the staff handled the situation professionally.

    In context

    The report was professionally presented, with clear data visualisations and a concise executive summary that impressed the board.

    Usage

    Commonly used to describe communication, behaviour, or the appearance of work products.

    expertlyskilfullyproperly
    unprofessionallysloppily

From professional + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated