preaching
B2Formal / Neutral (in religious contexts); Often negative / pejorative in secular, extended use.
Definition
Meaning
The act of delivering a sermon or religious talk, typically with the intent to instruct, exhort, or persuade.
The action of giving moral or ethical advice, especially in a persistent, tedious, or self-righteous manner. Can also refer to the earnest advocating of any principle, belief, or course of action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a gerund (verbal noun), it denotes the activity. The figurative, pejorative sense is very common in secular discourse, e.g., 'Stop preaching at me.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage patterns.
Connotations
Both varieties share the same core (religious) and extended (moralizing) connotations. The phrase 'preaching to the choir' is equally common.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to higher visibility of public religious discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] preaching (about/on/against something)[verb] preaching to somebody[adjective] preachingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Preaching to the choir”
- “Practice what you preach”
- “A preaching tone/voice”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'His constant preaching about efficiency didn't match the department's chaotic processes.' Used negatively for unsolicited or hypocritical advice.
Academic
'The study focuses on the social impact of Methodist preaching in 18th-century England.' Refers to the historical/sociological phenomenon.
Everyday
'I don't need your preaching about screen time—you're always on your phone too!' Used pejoratively for nagging or hypocritical advice.
Technical
In homiletics (the art of preaching), it refers to the methodology and delivery of sermons.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The vicar preaches on charity every harvest festival.
- He's always preaching about the benefits of a vegan diet.
American English
- The pastor preached a powerful sermon on forgiveness.
- She preaches fiscal responsibility but has massive debt.
adverb
British English
- N/A (Not a standard adverbial form; 'preachily' is extremely rare and non-standard.)
American English
- N/A (Not a standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- He adopted a preaching tone that put everyone off.
- The documentary had a rather preaching finale.
American English
- I find his preaching style a bit too theatrical.
- She avoided a preaching approach in her advocacy work.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The priest's preaching was very long.
- Stop preaching! I understand.
- His preaching about healthy eating became annoying.
- The sermon involved a lot of preaching about kindness.
- Effective preaching requires both passion and deep knowledge of the scripture.
- She accused him of preaching democracy while supporting authoritarian regimes.
- The politician's speech devolved into mere preaching, lacking substantive policy details.
- His incessant moral preaching alienated more people than it convinced.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PREACHER reaching people with a speech. PREACHING is what the preacher is DOING.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL INSTRUCTION IS RELIGIOUS SERMON; PERSUASION IS PREACHING; CRITICISM IS A SERMON.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'проповедь' for the pejorative sense; it sounds too formally religious. Use 'moralizing' or 'lecturing' instead. 'Проповедовать' as a verb covers both religious and secular 'advocating,' but English 'preach' in secular contexts is often negative.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'preaching' as a countable noun (e.g., 'He gave a preach.') – incorrect; it's 'He gave a sermon.' or 'He did some preaching.'
- Confusing 'preaching' (activity) with 'sermon' (the specific content/discourse).
Practice
Quiz
In a secular, non-religious argument, saying 'Stop preaching!' most likely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its core meaning is religious, its most common use in everyday secular language is figurative and often negative, meaning to give unwanted moral advice in a self-righteous way.
'Preaching' is the activity or act of delivering religious or moral instruction. 'A sermon' is the specific discourse or talk given during that act. You listen to a sermon; a priest engages in preaching.
Yes, in religious contexts it is neutral/positive (e.g., 'His preaching inspired many'). In secular contexts, it is rarely positive unless referring to earnest, admired advocacy (e.g., 'Her preaching of tolerance was admirable'). More often it's negative.
It means you should yourself do the things that you advise other people to do. It highlights hypocrisy when someone's actions don't match their own stated advice or principles.