preach

American  

[preech] / pritʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to proclaim or make known by sermon (the gospel, good tidings, etc.).

2. to deliver (a sermon).

3. to advocate or inculcate (religious or moral truth, right conduct, etc.) in speech or writing.

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verb (used without object)

1. to deliver a sermon.

2. to give earnest advice, as on religious or moral subjects or the like.

   Synonyms:

   expound, pronounce, profess, advocate

3. to give earnest advice in an obtrusive or tedious way.

idioms

1. preach to the choir. see preach to the choir.

preach British  

/ priːtʃ /

verb

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

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

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preach More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing preach

• practice what you preach

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Other Word Forms

• outpreach
  verb (used with object)
• preachable
  adjective
• unpreached
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of preach

1175–1225; Middle English prechen < Old French pre ( ë ) chier < Late Latin praedicāre to preach ( Latin: to assert publicly, proclaim). See predicate

Explanation

To preach is to deliver a sermon or an otherwise powerful message. You may go to church to hear the minister preach, and you may preach tolerance to your friends. Have you ever heard anyone say, "That's preaching to the choir"? That means you're wasting your words on somebody who already believes what you believe. If you're giving an impassioned speech about recycling to an audience dressed in reclaimed clothing and sandals made of old tires, you're likely to be preaching to the choir. The word preach comes from the Latin prae, "before," and dicare, "declare." When you preach, you're not just talking — you're declaring something with conviction.

Example Sentences

With more than 40 songs in the show, some like "Papa Don't Preach" were dispatched in seconds, but all of her re-inventions, from Catholic Madonna to Country Madonna, featured.

From Reuters • Oct. 15, 2023

Asher helps Jaymee as she recuperates, and Coop helps Preach prepare for his custody trial.

From Washington Post • Feb. 6, 2023

She and husband Jeff co-authored “Shrinking the Integrity Gap: Between the Values You Preach and Live,” a book addressing the question of regaining credibility for Christian leaders and others.

From Washington Times • Feb. 18, 2022

“The guys all said, ‘Yeah, go ahead, Preach, sure, why not?’

From New York Times • Mar. 29, 2019

“Gawaine,” he asked painfully, “don’t follow me. I will accept the banishment. I will live in my Preach castles. But don’t follow me, Gawaine. Don’t keep the war forever.”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• exhort
• teach