noun
sake
SAYK
noun
1
The purpose, reason, or benefit behind doing something (used in phrases like "for the sake of").
"She took the extra shift for the sake of the extra money."
"He apologized for the sake of peace, not because he felt he was wrong."
How to Use Sake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe reason or benefit that makes an action worthwhile — almost always used in set phrases such as "for the sake of."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with sake the Japanese rice drink, which is a completely unrelated borrowed word pronounced differently.
Common pairings
for the sake of
for old times' sake
for goodness' sake
for argument's sake
Word Forms
sakes plural
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She took the extra shift for the _____ of the extra money.
Etymology
From Old English sacu, "cause, dispute, legal case," related to the verb "seek."