1. become professional or proceed in a professional manner or in an activity for pay or as a means of livelihood • Syn: professionalize • Derivationally related forms: professionalization (for: professionalize) • Hypernyms: change • Verb Group: professionalize • Verb Frames: - Something ----s 2. make professional or give a professional character to - Philosophy has not always been professionalized and used to be a subject pursued only by amateurs • Syn: professionalize • Derivationally related forms: professionalization (for: professionalize) • Hypernyms: change, alter, modify • Verb Group: professionalize • Verb Frames: - Somebody ----s something