Meaning & use
preach
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitivereligion
To give a religious talk, usually in a place of worship, explaining beliefs or teachings.
Grammar: Can stand alone or take an object: she preached to the congregation; he preached the gospel.
Patterns
- preach to someone
- preach something
- preach about something
The minister preached to a full church on Sunday.
He preached forgiveness in every sermon.
She was trained to preach in three languages.
verbtransitive or intransitivedisapproving
To urge people to follow a belief or way of life, especially in an annoying, lecturing way.
Grammar: Often used with to: don't preach to me.
Patterns
- preach to someone
- preach about something
- preach something
I don't want to preach, but you should wear a helmet.
He preaches healthy eating yet lives on snacks.
They kept preaching to us about recycling.
verbtransitive
To publicly support and recommend an idea, plan or way of acting.
Grammar: Takes an object such as patience or peace.
Patterns
- preach something
The coach preaches teamwork above individual glory.
The leader preached caution during the crisis.
Their company preaches honesty with customers.
Word forms
| third person singular | preaches |
|---|---|
| past tense | preached |
| past participle | preached |
| -ing form | preaching |
Common combinations
- preach a sermon
- The vicar preached a sermon on kindness.
- preach to the converted
- Talking about recycling to this group is preaching to the converted.
- practice what you preach
- A teacher must practice what he preaches.
- preach the gospel
- Missionaries traveled to preach the gospel.
- preach tolerance
- The mayor preached tolerance after the protests.
- preach at someone
- Stop preaching at me about my diet.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lecture
- Lecture means to give a formal talk or a long scolding, with no religious sense.
- sermonize
- Sermonize is more critical and always means moralizing at length.
- advocate
- Advocate is neutral and formal, meaning to publicly support something.
- moralize
- Moralize focuses on giving moral opinions, usually with disapproval.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: preach or teach? preach or breach?
preach vs teach
Teach means to give knowledge or skills, while preach means to urge beliefs, often with a moral tone.
preach vs breach
Breach means a break or gap, and it only looks and sounds similar.
Practice
What does it mean to "practice what you preach"?
Choose one answer.
The idiom means acting in line with the advice you give. The first option describes hypocrisy, the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “preach”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.