What does preaching mean?
Preaching most commonly refers to the practice of delivering a religious sermon or spiritual instruction, particularly from a church pulpit. It can also refer to the activity of evangelizing or attempting to persuade others to adopt a belief or way of life. In more informal and figurative use, preaching describes persistent moralizing or lecturing, often with the implication that the speaker is being intrusive, self-righteous, or tiresomely earnest. As a verb, preaching is the present participle of preach. The expression "preaching to the choir" is widely used for advice addressed to people who already believe or know what the speaker is saying. Although the word remains strongly associated with formal religious instruction, its figurative sense allows it to characterize a wide range of public moral appeals and unsolicited advice.
The act or practice of delivering religious sermons or spiritual instruction, especially from a pulpit.
"The service included hymns, prayer, and a sermon on compassion."
Also used figuratively for persistent moralizing or lecturing.
The present participle of preach: speaking publicly about religious beliefs or moral principles.
"He spent the afternoon preaching to visitors about the history of the church."
It can function as a gerund or as the present participle in a continuous verb form.
The plural is uncommon in ordinary English but is used when referring to separate instances or collections of sermons.
"The archive preserves recordings of several preachings by visiting clergy."
From public proclamation to pulpit sermon—and sometimes to a stern lecture—preaching has followed a remarkably broad path.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How preaching is actually used
In religious contexts, preaching is generally neutral or approving and refers to the formal presentation of a sermon. In informal contexts, especially phrases such as "preaching to the choir," it can imply condescending moral instruction or an unwelcome lecture.
Easily confused with preaching
Preaching names the act of delivering a sermon or moral message, whereas preachy describes someone who moralizes excessively.