# preaching

/ˈpɹitʃɪŋ/ (US) · /pɹˈiːtʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/preaching
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. religious sermon

noun · CEFR B2

the act of giving a talk about religion or morals, usually in a church.

For teachers: the delivery of a religious sermon or discourse, typically by a member of the clergy.

- The priest spent many years preaching to his community in the small village.
- His style of preaching was renowned for its intellectual depth and its ability to connect ancient scripture with modern social challenges.

Usage: Often functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the profession or activity in general.

### 2. moral advice

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

giving unwanted advice about how someone should live or behave.

For teachers: the act of offering earnest or tedious moral advice, often perceived as condescending or intrusive.

- I'm tired of my brother's constant preaching about my diet.
- The politician's preaching about family values felt hypocritical to many voters given his own complicated personal history.

Teaching tip: In modern informal English, this sense often carries a negative connotation of being 'preachy' or annoying.

## Examples

- His constant preaching about healthy eating is starting to annoy his friends.
- The local community center offers a space for spiritual preaching every Sunday morning for those interested in the faith.
- While the candidate's platform was popular, many voters were eventually alienated by his constant preaching, which they felt lacked a practical understanding of their daily economic struggles.

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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.