lecturing

IPA/ˈlek.tʃər/
KK[lˈɛktʃɚɪŋ]IPA/ˈlek.tʃɚ/

lecturing — verb

  • lecturingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • lecturings3rd person singular
  • lecturinging-ing form
  • lecturingedpast simple

1. to teach or explain a subject by speaking to a class or other audience in a plan

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to teach or explain a subject by speaking to a class or other audience in a planned way.

Example

Professor Haddad was lecturing on river safety when the fire alarm rang.

pattern: lecture on a topic

Liang spent the morning lecturing first-year students about lab safety.

pattern: lecture someone about something

Common collocations
  • lecture on a subject
  • lecture about safety
  • lecture to students
  • guest lecturing
  • lecture in English
Synonyms
  • teach

    broader and can include discussion, practice, or one-to-one help, not only formal speaking

  • present

    often used for sharing information to an audience, with less emphasis on instruction

  • speak

    much broader and does not necessarily imply a planned educational talk

Grammar Patterns

lecture on/about something

lecture someone on/about something

be lecturing to a class

Usage Note

Often followed by on or about before the subject being explained. This sense is about addressing a group to teach or present information, not criticizing one person.

Common Mistakes

She was lecturing the class about volcanoes all morning.
She was lecturing the class on volcanoes all morning.
English usually uses 'on' or 'about' before the topic.
He lectured to chemistry yesterday.
He lectured on chemistry yesterday.
'To' introduces the audience, while the subject comes after 'on' or 'about'.

2. to talk to someone for a long time in a strict way because you think they behave

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to talk to someone for a long time in a strict way because you think they behaved badly.

Example

Christopher kept lecturing his son about leaving muddy shoes by the door.

pattern: lecture someone about behaviour

After the late return, Nora lectured Mia on household rules all weekend.

Common collocations
  • lecture someone about manners
  • lecture someone on safety
  • start lecturing
  • keep lecturing
Synonyms
  • scold

    more direct and often shorter, without the idea of a long serious talk

  • reprimand

    more formal and often used in workplace or official settings

  • preach

    suggests moral advice delivered in an annoying way, not always direct blame

Grammar Patterns

lecture someone about something

lecture someone on something

Usage Note

The object is the person being criticized, and the reason often follows with about or on. Compared with verb/1, this sense is personal and disapproving rather than educational.

Common Mistakes

My uncle lectured about me for staying out late.
My uncle lectured me for staying out late.
The person receiving the criticism is the direct object.
The teacher lectured him to cleaning his room.
The teacher lectured him about cleaning his room.
This sense normally takes 'about' or 'on', not an infinitive.

lecturing — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Lecturing usually suggests speaking to a group in a planned, formal way, especially in a college, training room, or public talk. Teaching is broader: a teacher may lecture, lead discussion, check work, or coach students one by one. Presenting focuses on giving information clearly to an audience, often in business or meetings, and may not involve instruction. Speaking is the widest term and can describe almost any kind of public talk. Explaining is narrower again, because it stresses making one point easy to understand rather than running a whole lesson. A professor can lecture on climate change for an hour, but a friend usually explains one homework problem instead.

lecturing ↗teaching ↗presenting ↗speaking ↗explaining ↗

Etymology

LatinLate LatinMiddle EnglishEnglish

Lecturing shares its history with lecture. The word came into English through Middle English from Late Latin lectura, meaning a reading, and that in turn is linked to Latin legere, meaning to read. Because teachers once often read texts aloud to students, the word developed the sense of giving a formal lesson or talk. The later scolding sense grew from the idea of giving someone a long, serious speech.