preaching

American

[pree-ching] / ˈpri tʃɪŋ /

noun

the act or practice of a person who preaches.
the art of delivering sermons.
a sermon.
a public religious service with a sermon.

adjective

of, relating to, or resembling preaching.

a preaching tone of voice.

Other Word Forms

nonpreaching adjective
preachingly adverb
unpreaching adjective

Etymology

Origin of preaching

1225–75; Middle English preching (gerund); preach, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Graham was accustomed to preaching in peculiar settings, including several trips he made behind the Iron Curtain at the height of the Cold War.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Sure, he’s protected by his wealth and his celebrity; sure, he’s preaching to the choir in every city he and the E Street Band visit.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

There’s little time spent on subtext, and even less on preaching.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

And Charlie Kirk - the late political activist who toured US college campuses preaching right-wing views - has become something of a hero among a small group of young British people online.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

For this doctrine, as may be presumed, he was debarred from all preaching.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023