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.see also preach to the choir
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
Even today, a simplistic popularization of political science is preached by legions of analysts, columnists, and talking heads who imagine politics mostly in terms of data, statistics, institutions, and strategy.
—Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The Royals showed consistency on the offensive and defensive side, something head coach Kevin Fair preached to his team about on a daily basis.
—Mukala Kabongo, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Miller, who previously preached at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, came under fire after his wife, Mica Miller, was found dead at Lumber River State Park in April 2024.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
At some point, people see what’s in front of them and ignore what is being preached at them.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preach
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Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The Royals showed consistency on the offensive and defensive side, something head coach Kevin Fair preached to his team about on a daily basis.
—Mukala Kabongo, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Miller, who previously preached at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, came under fire after his wife, Mica Miller, was found dead at Lumber River State Park in April 2024.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
At some point, people see what’s in front of them and ignore what is being preached at them.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 18 Dec. 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 31 Dec. 2025.
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