1. (v. i.) To proclaim or publish tidings; specifically, to proclaim the gospel; to discourse publicly on a religious subject, or from a text of Scripture; to deliver a sermon.

2. (v. i.) To give serious advice on morals or religion; to discourse in the manner of a preacher.

3. (v. t.) To proclaim by public discourse; to utter in a sermon or a formal religious harangue.

4. (v. t.) To inculcate in public discourse; to urge with earnestness by public teaching.

5. (v. t.) To deliver or pronounce; as, to preach a sermon.

6. (v. t.) To teach or instruct by preaching; to inform by preaching.

7. (v. t.) To advise or recommend earnestly.

8. (n.) A religious discourse.

address admonish advise advocate catechize caution charge counsel deliver a lecture discourse encourage enjoin evangelize exhort explain exposit expostulate expound harangue hold forth homilize incite inculcate induce issue a caveat lecture minister mission missionary moralize move persuade point a moral pontificate preachify preaching preachment prelect prompt prophesy read a lesson read a sermon remonstrate reprimand sermonize sermonizing speak talk urge warn