sake

¹

[seyk]

noun

1. cause, account, interest, or benefit.

   for the sake of all students.

   Synonyms: respect, consideration, regard

2. purpose or end.

   for the sake of appearances.

   Synonyms: reason

sake

²

Or sa·ké,

[sah-kee]

noun

1. a Japanese fermented, mildly alcoholic beverage made from rice.

sake

¹

/ seɪk /

noun

1. benefit or interest (esp in the phrase for ( someone's or one's own ) sake )

2. the purpose of obtaining or achieving (esp in the phrase for the sake of ( something ))

3. used in various exclamations of impatience, urgency, etc

   for heaven's sake

   for pete's sake

sake

²

/ ˈsækɪ /

noun

1. a Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice

Word History and Origins

Origin of sake¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sacu “lawsuit, cause”; cognate with German Sache “thing,” Old Norse sǫk “lawsuit”; akin to seek

Origin of sake²

First recorded in 1680–90; from Japanese sake; compare Okinawan saki

Word History and Origins

Origin of sake¹

C13 (in the phrase for the sake of, probably from legal usage): from Old English sacu lawsuit (hence, a cause); related to Old Norse sok, German Sache matter

Origin of sake²

C17: from Japanese

Idioms and Phrases

see for the sake of.

Example Sentences

For the sake of our economy and our Constitution, let’s hope so.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But college football programs will put up with just about anything for the sake of winning—and Kiffin is proof.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But suppose, for the sake of argument, the money actually existed and the deficit didn’t matter.

Read more on MarketWatch

Phuphong guided him through mindfulness exercises to help him find peace with his new reality while encouraging him to stay strong for his mother’s and sister’s sake.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I know you have run a long way and would like to rest,” Penelope said softly, “but for your own sake, you and the other wolves must go back to the forest at once.”

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• well-being