preach

preach

verb \ˈprēch\

Definition of PREACH

intransitive verb

1

: to deliver a sermon

2

: to urge acceptance or abandonment of an idea or course of action; specifically : to exhort in an officious or tiresome manner

transitive verb

1

: to set forth in a sermon <preach the gospel>

2

: to advocate earnestly <preached revolution>

3

: to deliver (as a sermon) publicly

4

: to bring, put, or affect by preaching <preached the … church out of debt — American Guide Series: Virginia>

— preach·er noun

— preach·ing·ly \ˈprē-chiŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of PREACH

1. Have you ever heard that minister preach?
2. The minister preached to the congregation about the need for tolerance.
3. His followers listened to him preach the gospel.
4. The priest preached a regular sermon that Sunday.
5. Their mother has always preached the value of a good education.
6. Practice what you preach—don't smoke if you tell your children not to smoke.
7. The mayor continues to preach about the need for patience.
8. I don't like being preached at about how I should live my life.

Origin of PREACH

Middle English prechen, from Anglo-French precher, from Late Latin praedicare, from Latin, to proclaim, make known, from prae- pre- + dicare to proclaim — more at diction

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PREACH

Synonyms: sermonize

Related Words: evangelize; lecture, platitudinize, preachify

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Rhymes with PREACH

beach, beech, bleach, breach, breech, each, leach, leech, peach, pleach, reach, screech, speech, teach