26984 words

sacrifice

12 definitions • 15 examples
1
to give up something that is valuable to you in order to help another person:

Examples:

sacrifice something for something Many women sacrifice interesting careers for their families.
2
in baseball, to use your turn to bat (= try to hit the ball) to intentionally hit the ball in a way that will end your turn, in order to allow another player to run to the next base or score a run (= point):

Examples:

3
to kill an animal or a person and offer them to a god or gods
4
the act of giving up something that is valuable to you in order to help someone else:

Examples:

make a sacrifice We had to make sacrifices in order to pay for our children's education.
at great sacrifice They cared for their disabled son for 27 years, at great personal sacrifice.
5
in baseball, an occasion when a player uses their turn to bat (= try to hit the ball) to intentionally hit the ball in a way that will end their turn, in order to allow another player to run to the next base or score a run (= point):

Examples:

A sacrifice sent the runner to third base.
6
the act of killing an animal or person and offering them to a god or gods, or the animal, etc. that is offered:

Examples:

sacrifice for The people offered a lamb on the altar as a sacrifice for their sins.
7
to give up something for something else considered more important:

Examples:

He sacrificed his vacations to work on his book.
8
to offer the life of an animal or a person to a god or gods in the hope of pleasing them, usually as part of a ceremony
9
the act of offering the life of an animal or a person to a god or gods in the hope of pleasing them, or the animal or person that is offered:

Examples:

[ U ] animal/ritual sacrifice
10
the act of giving up something for something else considered more important:

Examples:

[ C ] My parents made many sacrifices to pay for my college education.
11
something useful or important that you choose not to do or have, in order to have something that is more important:

Examples:

make sacrifices Most workers have made sacrifices to keep the company alive.
The economy is starting to grow and, after six years of sacrifice, to deliver higher incomes.
Are the financial savings worth the personal sacrifice?
12
to choose not to do or have something useful or important, in order to have something that is more important:

Examples:

We offer free advice to older people on the best way of paying for care fees without sacrificing savings and other personal assets.
sacrifice sth for sth I was prepared to sacrifice my career for my family and my personal life.
sacrifice sth to do sth He sacrificed his position as CEO in order to keep the company going.

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