verb
preach
preech
verb
1
To deliver a religious message or sermon, usually in public.
"The pastor preached about forgiveness on Sunday morning."
2
To give moral or practical advice, often in a way that feels tiresome or overbearing.
"My uncle loves to preach about the importance of saving money."
"She wasn't trying to preach at him, just offer a suggestion."
How to Use Preach
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo give a religious talk, or, more generally, to lecture someone about how they should behave.
Common mistake
When used outside religion, "preach" often carries a negative tone — implying someone is lecturing rather than simply advising.
Common pairings
preach to the choir
preach a sermon
Word Forms
preached past tense, praught past tense, preaches plural, preaches singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “preach”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pastor _____ about forgiveness on Sunday morning.
Etymology
From Old French "prechier," from Latin "praedicare," meaning "to proclaim" or "announce publicly."