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

Kids can get temporary tattoos and stickers at a special Children’s Area, and beer and sake will be served at the Inamori Pavilion in the Lower Gardens. —Martina Schimitschek, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026

By contrast, the authentic human being is called to choose and be the self, rather than being for the sake of others. —Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2026

Gyllenhaal simply cannot pick a tone, and although maximalist mash-ups in this vein have worked in the hands of more confident directors such as Baz Luhrmann, too often the choices here feel random for the sake of randomness. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026

Mahlase said South Africa’s film biz, although doing lip-service to transformation and opening up the industry, often sacrifices patience and waiting to find people to show and be the change practically, for the sake of speed, efficiency and production costs. —Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for sake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

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