preach

[preech]

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.

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.

preach

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of preach¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of preach¹

C13: from Old French prechier, from Church Latin praedicāre, from Latin: to proclaim in public; see _predicate

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

More idioms and phrases containing preach

• practice what you preach

Example Sentences

The Methodist preacher preached on the first and third Sunday, the Baptist preacher on the second and fourth.

Read more on Literature

"All that the newspapers and television programmes were full of was where the Duke's horses were running, where David Sheppard was preaching and what Mrs Dexter was wearing," bemoaned Trueman.

Read more on BBC

"There is no point professors preaching from on high. We need farmers themselves to show others that this does not necessarily mean a drop in income."

Read more on Barron's

Large employers have been making deep cuts to white-collar jobs, with many executives preaching a leaner approach to their businesses.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The young immigrant wanted to know how Vance could preach for the removal of nearly 18 million immigrants?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exhort 
• teach