Definition of 'preach'

Word Frequency

preach

(priːtʃ )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense preaches , present participle preaching , past tense, past participle preached

1. verb

When a member of the clergy preaches a sermon, he or she gives a talk on a religious or moral subject during a religious service.

At High Mass the priest preached a sermon on the devil. [VERB noun]

The bishop preached to a crowd of several hundred local people. [VERB + to]

He denounced the decision to invite his fellow archbishop to preach. [VERB]

[Also V + against/on]

Synonyms: deliver a sermon, address, exhort, evangelize More Synonyms of preach

2. verb

When people preach a belief or a course of action, they try to persuade other people to accept the belief or to take the course of action.

He tried to preach peace and tolerance to his people. [VERB noun]

Health experts are now preaching that even a little exercise is far better than none at all. [VERB that]

For many years I have preached against war. [V + against/about]

3. verb

If someone gives you advice in a very serious, boring way, you can say that they are preaching at you.

[disapproval]

'Don't preach at me,' he shouted. [VERB + at]

to practise what you preach

to preach to the converted

More Synonyms of preach

Video: pronunciation of 'preach'

Word Frequency

preach in British

(priːtʃ )

verb

to make known (religious truth) or give religious or moral instruction or exhortation in (sermons)

to advocate (a virtue, action, etc), esp in a moralizing way

Derived forms

preachable (ˈpreachable)

adjective

Word origin of 'preach'

C13: from Old French prechier, from Church Latin praedicāre, from Latin: to proclaim in public; see predicate

Word Frequency

preach in American

(pritʃ ; prēch)

verb intransitive

to speak in public on religious matters; give a sermon

to give moral or religious advice, esp. in a tiresome manner

verb transitive

to expound or proclaim by preaching

to advocate by or as by preaching; urge strongly or persistently

to deliver (a sermon)

Word origin of 'preach'

ME prechen < OFr precher < LL(Ec) praedicare, to preach the gospel < L, to declare in public, admonish < prae-, pre- + dicare, to proclaim, akin to dicere, to say: see diction

Example sentences containing 'preach'

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There are too many people preaching about how you should do it. The Sun (2016) Now he is preaching in the desert. Times, Sunday Times (2011)We need to think this way about formative preaching as well. Christianity Today (2000)From its famous open pulpit in the old hospital churchyard many an inflammatory sermon had been preached. Benjamin Woolley THE HERBALIST: Nicholas Culpeper Rebel Physician (2004)This association between concealment and observance is now preached hard in many British mosques. Times, Sunday Times (2014)