Billy Graham

21 5.3

An American Christian preacher who spoke to large crowds around the world

proper noun
/ˈbɪli ɡræm/

: Billy Graham

Many leaders sought advice from Billy Graham during his long career.
Rev. Billy Graham

Examples

Countless people attended the events organized by Billy Graham, drawn by his powerful message and charismatic presence.
Billy Graham held crusades around the world, drawing thousands to his sermons.
The legacy of Billy Graham continues to influence evangelical Christianity today.
Billy Graham was a great preacher.
Many people were inspired by Billy Graham during his lifetime.
Rev. Billy Graham was known for his impactful speeches that inspired millions around the world.
As a prominent figure in the evangelical community, Billy Graham held many large-scale revival meetings throughout his career.

Surface Forms

Billy Graham main

Morphology

Billy + Graham

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; the identity and biographical meaning cannot be derived from the literal constituents 'Billy' and 'Graham'. Proper nouns are referential rather than compositional, so a B1 learner who knows the words would not be able to infer the MWE's meaning or referent.

Etymology

Billy Graham was an American 'preacher' who became famous for huge outdoor meetings where he stood on a plain stage and asked people to come forward to hear his message. That image of him leading large crowds explains why his name now brings to mind a well-known 'religious leader' in modern Christianity.