sake

Meanings

1. 1nounsingular

   The reason or purpose behind something, or the benefit of a person or thing, used in set phrases like for the sake of.

   Grammar: Used in the fixed phrase for the sake of something or for someone's sake; it is not used alone.

   Patterns

   • for the sake of something
   • for someone's sake

   For the sake of peace, he said nothing.

   She stayed up late for the sake of her children.

   Do it for my sake, please.

2. 2nounsingular

   A reason or goal in itself, with no further purpose, as in art for art's sake.

   Grammar: Used in for its own sake or for the sake of it, showing there is no other purpose.

   Patterns

   • for its own sake
   • for the sake of it

   He collects stamps for their own sake, not for profit.

   She does not argue just for the sake of it.

   Some people read poetry purely for its own sake.

3. 3noununcountable

   A Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice, served warm or cold.

   Grammar: Pronounced /ˈsɑːki/, different from the other sake; it is uncountable, as in a glass of sake.

   Patterns

   • a glass of sake

   We shared a small bottle of sake with dinner.

   The waiter warmed the sake before pouring it.

   She learned how sake is brewed in Kyoto.

Common combinations

for the sake of

They moved to the country for the sake of their health.

for goodness' sake

For goodness' sake, check the door is locked.

for old times' sake

We visited the old school for old times' sake.

for its own sake

He loves running for its own sake.

for argument's sake

Let us assume, for argument's sake, that it is true.

for the sake of argument

For the sake of argument, suppose we double the price.

Synonyms and how they differ

benefit

Benefit means a good result, and for the benefit of is a close but more formal phrase than for the sake of.

account

Account is used in on account of and means because of, which is a reason rather than a goal.

interest

Interest is used in in the interest of, which is more formal and often about fairness or advantage.

purpose

Purpose names the aim of an action, and is used more freely and with more varied sentence patterns than sake.

Word family

namesake noun

a person or thing with the same name as another

forsake verb

to abandon someone or something

keepsake noun

a small object kept in memory of someone

mistake noun

an error; it only shares the spelling ending

Commonly confused: sake or sack?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sake”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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