evangelize

[ih-van-juh-lahyz]

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verb (used with object), e·van·ge·lized, e·van·ge·liz·ing.

to preach the gospel to.

to convert to Christianity.

verb (used without object), e·van·ge·lized, e·van·ge·liz·ing.

to preach the gospel; act as an evangelist.

Also especially British, e·van·ge·lise.

Origin of evangelize

1350–1400; Middle English evangelisen < Late Latin evangelizāre < Late Greek euangelízein. See evangel¹, -ize

Related formse·van·ge·li·za·tion, noune·van·ge·liz·er, nounun·e·van·ge·lized, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for evangelize

proselytize, sermonize, proclaim, preachify

Examples from the Web for evangelize

Contemporary Examples of evangelize

His bid quickly floundered; memorable only for his promise to try to evangelize Chuck Schumer if elected to the Senate.
The Bizarro World Of Iowa’s GOP Convention
Ben Jacobs
June 23, 2014
Bush will come on TV to talk about anything—even inane stuff like Cinco de Mayo parades—in order to evangelize for the GOP.
A Bush Goes to War
Bryan Curtis
October 25, 2009

Historical Examples of evangelize

Again, Do we give as much as we ought to evangelize the heathen?
Thoughts on Missions
Sheldon Dibble
To attempt to evangelize them was to fly in the face of Providence.
The Bridge of the Gods
Frederic Homer Balch
There is no way to lift Europe so fast as to evangelize her sons who come to us.
The Minute Man of the Frontier
W. G. Puddefoot
I would go forth, methought, at once, and evangelize the whole of Flatland.
Flatland
Edwin Abbott Abbott
And this is the mode of colonizationists to evangelize Africa!
Thoughts on African Colonization
William Lloyd Garrison

British Dictionary definitions for evangelize

evangelize

evangelise

verb

to preach the Christian gospel or a particular interpretation of it (to)

(intr) to advocate a cause with the object of making converts

Derived Formsevangelization or evangelisation, nounevangelizer or evangeliser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for evangelize

late 14c., from Old French evangeliser "to spread or preach the Gospel," and directly from Medieval Latin or Late Latin evangelizare, from Greek euangelizesthai (see evangelist). Related: Evangelized; evangelizing; evangelization.