verb

sacrifice

SAK-rih-fys

verb

To offer something, historically an animal, person, or object, to a deity as an act of worship.

"Ancient rituals often called for sacrificing livestock to the gods."

To give up something valuable for the sake of something considered more important.

"She sacrificed her weekends to finish the manuscript on time."

"They sacrificed comfort to save money for the trip."

noun

The act of giving up something valuable for a greater cause, or the thing given up.

"Getting into medical school required years of sacrifice."

"The soldiers' sacrifice was honored at the memorial."

How to Use Sacrifice

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGiving something up — an offering to a god, or giving up something valuable for a bigger goal.

Common pairings

make a sacrifice sacrifice for someone ultimate sacrifice

Word Forms

sacrificed past tense, sacrifice plural, sacrificed plural, sacrifices singular, sacrifice singular, sacrificed singular, sacrificest singular, sacrificedst singular, sacrificeth singular

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She _____ her weekends to finish the manuscript on time.

Etymology

From Old French sacrifice, from Latin sacrificium, from sacer ("sacred") plus facere ("to make/do").

Rhymes for sacrifice

ice rice mice dice nice vice voice price twice juice spice Alice

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