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
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.
Amer. Guide Series: Va.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
The church is surely about practicing 'love thy neighbor,' not just preaching it.
—Esme Nicholson, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
America preached democracy while supporting some of the most brutal dictators in the region.
—Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Rensch says in his book that the Kamps were able to weaponize the faith the Collective preached in an attempt to alter people’s life courses for the gain of the individual and the group.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Kiffin, though, appears to be preaching patience.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preach
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Esme Nicholson, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
America preached democracy while supporting some of the most brutal dictators in the region.
—Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Rensch says in his book that the Kamps were able to weaponize the faith the Collective preached in an attempt to alter people’s life courses for the gain of the individual and the group.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Kiffin, though, appears to be preaching patience.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preach
Cite this Entry
“Preach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preach. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share