preach
Americanverb (used with object)
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to proclaim or make known by sermon (the gospel, good tidings, etc.).
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to deliver (a sermon).
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to advocate or inculcate (religious or moral truth, right conduct, etc.) in speech or writing.
verb (used without object)
idioms
verb
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to make known (religious truth) or give religious or moral instruction or exhortation in (sermons)
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to advocate (a virtue, action, etc), esp in a moralizing way
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
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.
"And you didn't preach to the audience about what's right and wrong, and I think we should all be telling stories like that, so thank you for this dream."
From Barron's
The Buddha -- who renounced material wealth to embrace and preach a life of non-attachment -- founded a religion that now has more than 500 million adherents.
From Barron's
Across the hospitality industry, we often preach, “Think of yourself as a guest.”
When preparing for a hike, some pack the “10 essentials,” which includes navigation tools, a light source and emergency shelter, while others preach a different method of considering specifically what’s needed for the day.
From Los Angeles Times
At its peak, there were over 6,000 Shakers, joining Ann in rebuking the gruesome, incalculable evils of war and preaching moral generosity.
From Salon
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.
