sacrifice
the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.
the person, animal, or thing so offered.
the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.
the thing so surrendered or devoted.
a loss incurred in selling something below its value.
Also sacrifice hit .Baseball. a batted ball, specifically a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly, that results in the batter being put out at first base while one or more base runners safely advance. Abbreviation: S
to make a sacrifice or offering of.
to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.
to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit.
Baseball. to make a sacrifice hit: He sacrificed in the top of the fourth with a fly ball that brought in the go-ahead run from third base.
to offer or make a sacrifice.
Origin of sacrifice
1Other words for sacrifice
Other words from sacrifice
- sac·ri·fice·a·ble, adjective
- sac·ri·fic·er, noun
- non·sac·ri·fice, noun
- non·sac·ri·fic·ing, adjective
- pre·sac·ri·fice, noun, verb, pre·sac·ri·ficed, pre·sac·ri·fic·ing.
- su·per·sac·ri·fice, noun, verb (used with object), su·per·sac·ri·ficed, su·per·sac·ri·fic·ing.
- un·sac·ri·fice·a·ble, adjective
- un·sac·ri·ficed, adjective
- un·sac·ri·fic·ing, adjective
- well-sac·ri·ficed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use sacrifice in a sentence
Again and again, the band sacrifices the simple joy of a pop hook for the sake of a dense, meditative ambiance.
U2 Generously Gives Us a Lousy Album, Sucks at the Corporate Teat | Hampton Stevens | September 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSome of us would like to come watch if you do any sacrifices or anything like that.
The Stacks: Robin Williams, More Than A Shtick Figure | Joe Morgenstern | August 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDespite their sacrifices we still have a hard time accepting women as fully part of the war effort.
The Names You Don’t Hear: Nearly 200 Women Have Died in Iraq and Afghanistan | Kate Hoit | May 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNow, as a parent herself, Carina marvels at the sacrifices her own mother and father made.
Remembering the Fall of Saigon and Vietnam’s Mass ‘Boat People’ Exodus | Katie Baker | April 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTPaul sacrifices little with his base and can only assuage doubts among those concerned about his views on foreign policy.
Rand Paul Attempts To Woo Neocons By Cutting Aid To Palestinians | Ben Jacobs | April 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
How are we then to understand those generous sacrifices of health and fortune for the cause of Philippine liberty?
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanOne of the things, therefore, denoted by the offering of seven sacrifices was the swearing of it.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamShe is invited to return, and walk in the good way, and not to rely on sacrifices without obedience.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThe wind hath bound them up in its wings, and they shall be confounded because of their sacrifices.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousWhen that did not avail, its use was limited to feasts, banquets and sacrifices, and to guests and infirm old age.
The Art of Drinking | Georg Gottfried Gervinus
British Dictionary definitions for sacrifice
/ (ˈsækrɪˌfaɪs) /
a surrender of something of value as a means of gaining something more desirable or of preventing some evil
a ritual killing of a person or animal with the intention of propitiating or pleasing a deity
a symbolic offering of something to a deity
the person, animal, or object surrendered, destroyed, killed, or offered
a religious ceremony involving one or more sacrifices
loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value
chess the act or an instance of sacrificing a piece
to make a sacrifice (of); give up, surrender, or destroy (a person, thing, etc)
chess to permit or force one's opponent to capture (a piece) freely, as in playing a combination or gambit: he sacrificed his queen and checkmated his opponent on the next move
Origin of sacrifice
1Derived forms of sacrifice
- sacrificeable, adjective
- sacrificer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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