1
a
: dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity
a tree sacred to the gods
b
: devoted exclusively to one service or use (as of a person or purpose)
a fund sacred to charity
2
a
: worthy of religious veneration : holy
b
: entitled to reverence and respect
3
: of or relating to religion : not secular or profane
sacred music
4
archaic
: accursed
5
a
b
: highly valued and important
a sacred responsibility
sacredly
adverb
sacredness
noun
Examples of sacred in a Sentence
The burial site is sacred ground.
the sacred image of the Virgin Mary
the sacred pursuit of liberty
We have a sacred duty to find out the truth.
Freedom is a sacred right.
They'll make jokes about anything. Nothing is sacred to those guys.
I can't believe they would do that. Is nothing sacred?
Recent Examples on the Web
The Lord of Karma doesn’t allow shortcuts or hand out easy rewards; its wisdom is sacred and earned through experience.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
The West Wing’s White House represented a sacred workplace with gleaming wood and flattering lighting that was populated with smart people trying to do good for the country.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The seven pillars of society—wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth—aren’t just words carved into sacred walls.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
For this is sacred time, time out of time, without ballast or anchor, without leash or link.
—Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
The West Wing’s White House represented a sacred workplace with gleaming wood and flattering lighting that was populated with smart people trying to do good for the country.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The seven pillars of society—wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth—aren’t just words carved into sacred walls.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
For this is sacred time, time out of time, without ballast or anchor, without leash or link.
—Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Cite this Entry
“Sacred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacred. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sacred
adjective
sa·cred
ˈsā-krəd 
1
: set apart in honor of someone (as a god)
a mountain sacred to Jupiter
2
: holy sense 3
the sacred name of Jesus
3
: religious entry 1 sense 2
sacred songs
4
: deserving respect or honor
a sacred right
sacredly
adverb
sacredness
noun
Etymology
Middle English sacred "sacred," derived from early French sacrer "to make holy, dedicate to God," from Latin sacrare (same meaning), from sacr-, sacer "sacred, holy" — related to consecrate, sacrifice
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