Meaning & use

preach

verb·Everyday

To deliver a religious talk, or to give moral advice, often insistently and to an unwilling audience.

See it in a sentence

The visiting pastor preached about forgiveness to a packed congregation on Sunday morning.

Her older brother constantly preached about healthy eating without changing his own habits.

A note on using this word

Outside religious contexts, preach often carries a negative tone, suggesting someone lectures others without practicing what they recommend.

Words with a similar meaning

sermonizemoralizelecture

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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