{
    "term": "preach",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "preach",
            "heSheIt": "preaches"
        },
        "pastSimple": "preached",
        "pastParticiple": "preached",
        "ingForm": "preaching"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to give a religious talk in a public place, especially in a church during a service",
            "sensetop": "preach something",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She preached to the congregation about forgiveness."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The minister preached a sermon on the parable of the lost sheep.",
                    "contextForm": "preach something"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Religion and festivals"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to tell people about a particular religion, way of life, system, etc. in order to persuade them to accept it",
            "sensetop": "preach somethingpreach (about something)",
            "labels": "(North American English)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to preach the word of God",
                    "contextForm": "preach something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He preached the virtues of capitalism to us."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She preached about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.",
                    "contextForm": "preach (about something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He preached against the evils of drink."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She preached on the need to tackle social problems."
                },
                {
                    "text": "preaching about freedom and democracy"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to give somebody advice on moral standards, behaviour, etc., especially in a way that they find annoying or boring",
            "sensetop": "preach at somebody",
            "labels": "(disapproving)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to preach."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You're preaching at me again!",
                    "contextForm": "preach at somebody"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Suggestions and advice", "Personal qualities"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do the things yourself that you tell other people to do",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to speak to people in support of views that they already hold",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I realize I may be preaching to the converted, but I think he's gorgeous."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/priːtʃ/",
                "audio": "pr/preach/preach__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpriːtʃɪz/",
                "audio": "pr/preach/preaches__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/priːtʃt/",
                "audio": "pr/preach/preached__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpriːtʃɪŋ/",
                "audio": "pr/preach/preaching__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/priːtʃ/",
                "audio": "pr/preach/preach__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpriːtʃɪz/",
                "audio": "pr/preach/preaches__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/priːtʃt/",
                "audio": "pr/preach/preached__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpriːtʃɪŋ/",
                "audio": "pr/preach/preaching__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French prechier, from Latin praedicare ‘proclaim’, in ecclesiastical Latin ‘preach’, from prae ‘before’ + dicare ‘declare’."
}