preach

verb

ˈprēch 

preached; preaching; preaches

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

My mother always preached the value/virtue of a good education.

3

: to deliver (something, such as a sermon) publicly

4

: to bring, put, or affect by preaching

… preached the … Church out of debt …

—Amer. Guide Series: Va.

preachingly

ˈprē-chiŋ-lē 

adverb

see also:

preach to the choir

Synonyms of preach

• evangelize
• sermonize

Examples of preach in a Sentence

Have you ever heard that minister preach?

The minister preached to the congregation about the need for tolerance.

His followers listened to him preach the gospel.

The priest preached a regular sermon that Sunday.

Their mother has always preached the value of a good education.

Practice what you preach—don't smoke if you tell your children not to smoke.

The mayor continues to preach about the need for patience.

I don't like being preached at about how I should live my life.

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to being a member of the NYPD, De Paula was a pastor who dedicated part of her life to preaching and serving her community, the outlet reported. — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

This guy was preaching yesterday about what God is doing for him. — The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

While he was surprised by his fellow Klutch Sports Group client’s decision, Moody preached patience to Warriors fans fretting about their own team’s inactivity this offseason. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

Suddenly, the league that never stops preaching about diversity wasn't so excited about having a more politically diverse fan base. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

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, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing preach

• preach to the choir
• preach to the converted

Rhymes for preach

• beach
• beech
• bleach
• breach
• breech
• each
• keech
• leach
• leech
• meech
• peach
• reach

Kids Definition

preach

verb

ˈprēch 

1

a

: to deliver a sermon : utter publicly

b

: to set forth in a sermon

preach the gospel

2

: to urge publicly : advocate

preach brotherhood