sake

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈsāk 

1

: end, purpose

for the sake of argument

2

a

: the good, advantage, or enhancement of some entity (such as an ideal)

free to pursue learning for its own sake

—M. S. Eisenhower

b

: personal or social welfare, safety, or benefit

sake

2 of 2

noun (2)

sa·​ke ˈsä-kē 

variants or saki

: a Japanese alcoholic beverage of fermented rice often served hot

Examples of sake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

So, for the sake of argument, assume that Biden’s chances of reelection are 50-50. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2024

This isn’t just a weird film for the sake of being weird. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 May 2024

The source claims that Spelling stayed with McDermott for nearly two decades for the sake of their five kids — Liam Aaron McDermott, 17, Stella Doreen, 15, Hattie Margaret, 12, Finn Davey, 11 and Beau Dean, 7. —Linda Marx, Peoplemag, 16 May 2024

In 2015, the New York Times released an explosive feature regarding the high standards at Amazon which included, at times, working past midnight, a tense company culture, and simply a lack of work-life balance for the sake of a high salary and belief in the mission. —Chloe Berger, Fortune, 15 May 2024

For the sake of just loving the self, and there’s a tradition of that in Black culture and Black art. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 15 May 2024

For the sake of business efficiency, most operational decisions are made by managers in a standard hierarchical structure. —Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 May 2024

Let’s instead, for the sake of argument, consider something like the Nazis of the 1920s and 1930s ... —Rich Lowry, National Review, 13 May 2024

For the sake of preserving the ways of life of indigenous people, Trump must not win reelection. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 13 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, dispute, guilt, purpose, from Old English sacu guilt, action at law; akin to Old High German sahha action at law, cause, Old English sēcan to seek — more at seek

Noun (2)

Japanese sake

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1682, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sake

• art for art's sake
• for goodness' sake
• for heaven's sake
• for old times' sake
• for simplicity's sake
• for the sake of appearances
• for the sake of it
• for the sake of simplicity
• just for the sake of it

Kids Definition

sake

1 of 2 noun

ˈsāk 

1

: goal sense 2, purpose

for the sake of argument

2

: the good of something : advantage

the sake of our country

sake

2 of 2 noun

sa·​ke

variants or saki

ˈsäk-ē 

: a Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice

Etymology

Noun

Old English sacu "guilt, legal action"

Noun

Japanese