preach
/priːtʃ
/verb [no object]
1Deliver a sermon or religious address to an assembled group of people, typically in church: he preached to a large congregation [with object]: our pastor will preach the sermon (as noun preaching) large numbers of people would come to hear his preaching...
- He is said to have delivered 18,000 sermons, preaching 40-60 hours a week.
- The newly re-born legend soon featured as the centrepiece of a series of patriotic sermons preached in parish churches across England.
- But let's say that the book is a collection of sermons preached at that church.
Synonyms
give a sermon, deliver a sermon, sermonize, spread the gospel, evangelize, address, speak
rare gospelize
religious teaching, instruction, message;
sermons, sermonizing, homilies, evangelism, homiletics
rare pulpitry, kerygma
1.1 [with object] Publicly proclaim or teach (a religious message or belief): he preached the word of God...
- Because of this ministry, ministers across the nation can preach the Christian message to a culture that has been taught that the Bible cannot be trusted.
- Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind, social justice and denounces superstitions and blind rituals.
- So Peter was the first to preach a message unto Gentile believers.
Synonyms
proclaim, teach, spread, propagate, expound, explain, make known
1.2 [with object] Earnestly advocate (a belief or course of action): my parents have always preached toleration and moderation...
- We run a business, not a re-education camp, so we don't preach the co-operative gospel to people.
- For as long as I've known you, you've always preached the virtue of consistency.
- They also preach tolerance of others with different beliefs.
Synonyms
advocate, recommend, advise, urge, exhort, teach, counsel, champion, inculcate, instil
1.3Give moral advice to someone in a pompously self-righteous way: viewers want to be entertained, not preached at...
- He viewed him then as ‘the stereotype of a head waiter’ who preached at them ‘like a division chaplain in the army’.
- Many of the kids will eventually rebel against all the stuff preached at them, however.
- I have never ever preached at them, but I have given them my opinion where they have asked for it.
Synonyms
moralize, be moralistic, sermonize, pontificate, lecture, harangue
informal preachify
rare ethicize
Phrases
preach to the converted
Origin
Middle English: from Old French prechier, from Latin praedicare 'proclaim', in ecclesiastical Latin 'preach', from prae 'before' + dicare 'declare'.