Definition of 'preach'
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]
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
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'preach'
verb
1.
2.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
adjective
Word origin of 'preach'
verb intransitive
2.
to give moral or religious advice, esp. in a tiresome manner
verb transitive
4.
to advocate by or as by preaching; urge strongly or persistently
5.
to deliver (a sermon)
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
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. 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)
Trends of 'preach'
In Common Usage. preach is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
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Translations for 'preach'
British English: preach 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.
Nearby words of 'preach'
Related Terms of 'preach'
Source
Definition of preach from the
Collins English Dictionary
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