# JESUS

/ˈdʒizəs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jesus
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. religious figure

noun · CEFR A2

the person who Christians believe is the Son of God and whose life is the basis of the Christian religion.

For teachers: the first-century Jewish teacher and prophet regarded by Christians as the Messiah and the Son of God.

- Many people go to church to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
- Theological debates often center on the dual nature of Jesus as both fully divine and fully human within the Christian tradition.

Usage: Usually used as a proper noun without an article.

### 3. to preach at someone

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · Humorous

to try very hard to convince someone to become a Christian or to follow Christian rules.

For teachers: to subject someone to intensive Christian proselytizing or moralizing.

- He spent the whole lunch trying to Jesus his coworkers.
- The documentary explores how certain groups attempt to Jesus vulnerable populations through aggressive street ministry.

Usage: Used transitively, meaning you 'Jesus' a person.

## Examples

- Jesus is a central figure in the New Testament.
- Many historians study the life of Jesus to understand the social and political climate of first-century Judea.
- The theological debate centered on the dual nature of Jesus, specifically how he could be simultaneously fully human and fully divine within the framework of orthodox doctrine.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
