preach

play

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 (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

noun

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

Some preached curtailed growth, while others believed human ingenuity could meet the challenge.

— katherine mast, Discover Magazine, "Everything Worth Knowing About ... the Future of Food", 26 June 2017
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.

— simon gongo, Bloomberg.com, "Islamist Preacher's Turn to Violence Shows Threat to West Africa", 19 June 2017
Anything Can Surface Times have changed since Pincince sat in an auditorium as a student-athlete with local leaders preaching right and wrong.

— desmond conner, courant.com, "Friend Request: Central's Pincince Wants To Help Students Learn Social Media Realities", 18 June 2017
Ates, a well-known women’s right activist and lawyer, preached in front of the crowd which filled the mosque.

— kirsten grieshaber, The Seattle Times, "Germany opens its first liberal mosque in Berlin", 16 June 2017
After practice, Del Rio gathered his team on the field and preached common sense.

— jerry mcdonald, The Mercury News, "Jack Del Rio’s message to Raiders: Stay out of trouble, come back ready to work", 15 June 2017
Even after an injury to starting pitcher Danny Duffy, general manager Dayton Moore has preached patience.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "Royals remain targeted after slow start — by teams in contention", 1 June 2017
Sotiros' rise epitomizes what Mathey preaches in his program.

— paul johnson, Naperville Sun, "Nick Sotiros sparks NCC to College World Series for first time in 30 years", 1 June 2017
That's why even Today show financial expert Jean Chatzky, coauthor of AgeProof, who has preached against rote expenses like a latte, still sometimes finds herself at Starbucks.

— sandy fernández, Redbook, "Show Your Money Some Love", 31 May 2017

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

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First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

PREACH Defined for English Language Learners

preach

play

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