evangelize

E1V4A1N1G2E1L1I1Z10E1
/ɪˈvænd͡ʒəlaɪz/

verb

To tell people about (a particular branch of) Christianity, especially in order to convert them; to preach the gospel to.

Similar
evangelise
OriginOld French évangéliser ← Late Latin evangelizare ← Ancient Greek εὐαγγελίζω →
UncommonScrabble 23
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Meanings

verbevangelize (third-person singular simple present evangelizes, present participle evangelizing, simple past and past participle evangelized)

present singular third person evangelizes · participle present evangelizing · participle past evangelized · past evangelized · alternative evangelise

  1. To tell people about (a particular branch of) Christianity, especially in order to convert them; to preach the gospel to.

    his Apoſtles, whom he ſends To evangelize the Nations

    1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 1389–1390
  2. To preach any ideology to those who have not yet been converted to it.

    […] nor is it the task of the Muslim to "evangelize" the unbelieving world.

    2002, Ergun Mehmet Caner, Emir Fethi Caner, Unveiling Islam: An Insider's Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs, page 11
  3. To be enthusiastic about something, and to attempt to share that enthusiasm with others; to promote.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbpreach the gospel (to)

Similar
evangelise
Broader
preachprophesy

verbspread the Christian faith

Similar
evangelise
Broader
convert
Also see
proselytize

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekεὐαγγελίζω
  2. Late Latinevangelizare
  3. Old Frenchévangéliser
  4. Englishevangelize

From Old French évangéliser, equivalent to evangel + -ize, from Late Latin evangelizare, from Ancient Greek εὐαγγελίζω (euangelízō). Displaced native Old English godspellian (literally “to gospel”).

More words from Old French, Late Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek εὐαγγελίζω
  • εὐαγγελίζω (euangelízō)tell people about Christianity
Arabic بَشَّرَ
  • بَشَّرَ (baššara)tell people about Christianity
Catalan evangelitzar
  • evangelitzartell people about Christianity
Dutch evangeliseren, uitdragen van de blijde boodschap
  • evangeliserentell people about Christianity
  • uitdragen van de blijde boodschaptell people about Christianity
Esperanto evangelizi
  • evangelizitell people about Christianity
Finnish evankelioida, levittää ilosanomaa
  • evankelioidatell people about Christianity
  • levittää ilosanomaatell people about Christianity
French évangéliser
  • évangélisertell people about Christianity
German evangelisieren
  • evangelisierentell people about Christianity
Italian evangelizzare
  • evangelizzaretell people about Christianity
Latin ēvangelizāre
  • ēvangelizāretell people about Christianity
Polish ewangelizować, głosić dobrą nowinę
  • ewangelizowaćtell people about Christianity
  • głosić dobrą nowinętell people about Christianity
Portuguese evangelizar
  • evangelizartell people about Christianity
Spanish evangelizar
  • evangelizartell people about Christianity
Swedish evangelisera
  • evangeliseratell people about Christianity
Cite this entry
APA

evangelize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evangelize

MLA

“evangelize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evangelize. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “evangelize,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evangelize.

Source: evangelize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.