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preach
[ preech ]
/ pritʃ /
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verb (used with object)
to proclaim or make known by sermon (the gospel, good tidings, etc.).
to deliver (a sermon).
to advocate or inculcate (religious or moral truth, right conduct, etc.) in speech or writing.
verb (used without object)
to deliver a sermon.
to give earnest advice, as on religious or moral subjects or the like.
to give earnest advice in an obtrusive or tedious way.
OTHER WORDS FOR preach
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Idioms about preach
preach to the choir. See entry at preach to the choir.
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
OTHER WORDS FROM preach
out·preach, verb (used with object)un·preached, adjectiveWords nearby preach
pray tell, prazosin, PRB, PRC, pre-, preach, preacher, preacher curl, preachify, preaching, preachment
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use preach in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for preach
preach
/ (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 of preach
preachable, adjectiveWord Origin for preach
C13: from Old French prechier, from Church Latin praedicāre, from Latin: to proclaim in public; see predicate
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with preach
preach
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.