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 (something, such as a sermon) publicly
4 : to bring, put, or affect by preaching preached the … church out of debt — Amer. Guide Series: Va.
preacher
nounPeople Are Reading
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 of preach from the Web
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Ferrell said he's been able to lean on something former Indiana coach Tom Crean preached when Ferrell played for the Hoosiers.
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This reaction does not point toward budget-balancing governors preaching pragmatism.
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But even as Maduro was preaching pace, there were fresh reports of intimidation and bloodshed.
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Nevertheless, Ariel continues to fire back, preaching nothing but self-love, body acceptance, and a no-judgment policy.
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So, in the meantime, Ariel continues to fire back, preaching nothing but self-love, body acceptance, and a no-judgment policy.
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Some preached curtailed growth, while others believed human ingenuity could meet the challenge.
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Today, the mosque in northern Djibo province where the slight, unimposing man used to preach is closed, and the mud-brick walls of his village’s school are riddled with bullet holes.
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Anything Can Surface Times have changed since Pincince sat in an auditorium as a student-athlete with local leaders preaching right and wrong.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'preach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology 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
PREACH Defined for English Language Learners
preach
playDefinition of preach for English Language Learners
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: to make a speech about religion in a church or other public place : to deliver a sermon
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: to write or speak about (something) in an approving way : to say that (something) is good or necessary
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: to write or speak in an annoying way about the right way to behave
PREACH Defined for Kids
preach
playDefinition of preach for Students
preached
;preaching
1 : to give a sermon
2 : to urge publicly preach patience
Learn More about preach
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See words that rhyme with preach Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for preach Spanish Central: Translation of preach Nglish: Translation of preach for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of preach for Arabic speakers
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