sake

¹ American  

[seyk] / seɪk /

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

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sake ² American  

[sah-kee] / ˈsɑ ki /

Or saké,

noun

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

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sake ¹ British  

/ 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

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sake ² British  

/ ˈsækɪ /

noun

1. a Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice

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sake Idioms  

1. see for the sake of.

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Merz was right when he said Friday that leaders need to “repair trans-Atlantic trust together”—not just for Europe’s sake, but for America’s, too.

From Barron's

Merz was right when he said Friday that leaders need to “repair trans-Atlantic trust together”—not just for Europe’s sake, but for America’s, too.

From Barron's

For the sake of every American’s health, the president should reform the accreditation system for medical schools.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Physically, it's a little bit of a warm-up... That's why I decided to help somehow. For myself and for the sake of flowers."

From Barron's

But many, like Neel, went to their beds that night with heavy hearts because the leaders and heroes of the village were going on a dangerous quest for their sakes and might never return.

From Literature

Related Words

• well-being