Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

preaching

American  
[pree-ching] / ˈpri tʃɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or practice of a person who preaches.

  2. the art of delivering sermons.

  3. a sermon.

  4. a public religious service with a sermon.

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or resembling preaching.

    a preaching tone of voice.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of preaching

1225–75; Middle English preching (gerund); see preach, -ing 1, -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Preaching renewal in these circumstances is like trying to shout over an air horn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

Preaching his “middle way” uplifts the spiritually marginalized and appeals to a broad constituency.

From Salon • May 10, 2025

Preaching at Canterbury Cathedral on Easter Sunday, he will say that "true peace is no aimless daydream".

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2023

Preaching patience became a weekly mantra of his with Keenum expressing confidence he and his new teammates and coaches would eventually adjust to each other in time to make a late-season run.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2019

Preaching assumed too much in the single mind, paid less than due respect to the minds of the hearers, and gave no opportunity for the instant exchange of thoughts.

From Transcendentalism in New England A History by Frothingham, Octavius Brooks

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.