preach

verb \ ˈprēch \

|Updated on: 3 Aug 2018

Definition of preach

preached; preaching; preaches

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.

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preacher

noun

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preachingly

play \ˈprē-chiŋ-lē\ adverb

See preach defined for English-language learners

See preach defined for kids

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

Putting it on the social media accounts of prominent skeptics has a hint of preaching to the choir.

— brian barrett, WIRED, "A ‘Cancer Cure’ Video Skewered Bad Science—and Went Viral Itself," 10 July 2018
Instead of preaching to the typically somber choir, Russell wants to stage events based around fun, a word not often associated with mental health advocacy.

— jeffrey lee puckett, The Courier-Journal, "Lebowski Fest founder launches mental health project, new retail shop," 20 June 2018
Parker’s 2016 Supreme Court campaign was supported by another ally and neo-Confederate, Michael Peroutka, who travels the country preaching about merging the Bible, the Constitution and Confederate values.

— michael harriot, The Root, "Alabama’s Republican Nominee for Chief Justice Might Be the Only Judge More Racist Than Roy Moore," 8 June 2018
Many of Stevens’ critiques of capitalism and inequality are within the lines of what Mixon himself preaches.

— alana semuels, The Atlantic, "The Preacher Who Wanted to Save Silicon Valley’s Soul," 29 May 2018
Curry has a long history of preaching an inclusive faith, and modern times have not dimmed his fire.

— ellen mcgirt, Fortune, "raceAhead: An Unapologetically Black Royal Wedding," 21 May 2018
Asked if McCain was sending a contradictory message by preaching compromise but blocking the sitting President from eulogizing him, Hatch steered clear.

— ted barrett, CNN, "Hatch says it's 'ridiculous' for McCain to block Trump from funeral," 7 May 2018
Hardy, a 28-year-old legal assistant at a Downtown law firm, has been traveling the city, preaching the need for a better transit system.

— hannah sparling, Cincinnati.com, "Is this guy a public-transit superhero? Or is he just a pain in the butt?," 10 July 2018
But former Raptors coach Dwane Casey is now in Detroit and is preaching greatness.

— vince ellis, Detroit Free Press, "Glenn Robinson III, Jose Calderon: Detroit Pistons 'can do big things'," 8 July 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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PREACH Defined for English Language Learners

preach

verb

Definition of preach for English Language Learners

: to make a speech about religion in a church or other public place : to deliver a sermon
: to write or speak about (something) in an approving way : to say that (something) is good or necessary
: to write or speak in an annoying way about the right way to behave