preach

American  

[preech] / pritʃ /

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.

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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.

idioms

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

preach British  

/ 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

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preach More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing preach

• practice what you preach

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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

And Charlie Kirk - the late political activist who toured US college campuses preaching right-wing views - has become something of a hero among a small group of young British people online.

From BBC

Last June, Feldstein Soto tried to block the City Council from extending the contract without a competitive bidding process, a core tenet she has preached as the city’s elected legal counsel.

From Los Angeles Times

Getting a fun moment outside of basketball is the kind of ethos of this season’s Bruins, with Jaquez saying Close has preached joy as much as wins.

From Los Angeles Times

But from the Old Testament to the New, it consistently preaches for the faithful to humble themselves, to help the poor and downtrodden.

From Los Angeles Times

The most famous man in America, the man who had preached to her about honesty, the man who Maggie adored, had denied their love.

From Literature

Related Words

• exhort
• teach