preach

[ preech ]
See synonyms for: preachpreachedpreaching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to proclaim or make known by sermon (the gospel, good tidings, etc.).

  2. to deliver (a sermon).

  1. to advocate or inculcate (religious or moral truth, right conduct, etc.) in speech or writing.

verb (used without object)
  1. to deliver a sermon.

  2. to give earnest advice, as on religious or moral subjects or the like.

  1. to give earnest advice in an obtrusive or tedious way.

Idioms about preach

  1. preach to the choir. See entry at preach to the choir.

Origin of preach

1
1175–1225; Middle English prechen<Old French pre(ë)chier<Late Latin praedicāre to preach (Latin: to assert publicly, proclaim). See predicate

Other words for preach

Other words from preach

  • out·preach, verb (used with object)
  • un·preached, adjective

Words Nearby preach

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use preach in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preach

preach

/ (priːtʃ) /


verb
  1. to make known (religious truth) or give religious or moral instruction or exhortation in (sermons)

  2. to advocate (a virtue, action, etc), esp in a moralizing way

Origin of preach

1
C13: from Old French prechier, from Church Latin praedicāre, from Latin: to proclaim in public; see predicate

Derived forms of preach

  • preachable, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with preach

preach

In addition to the idiom beginning with preach

  • preach to the converted

also see:

  • practice what you preach

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.