sacrifice
gb/sˈækɹəfˌaɪs/ us/sˈækɹəfˌaɪs/
B1
English
~ 9300
áldozathozatal, lemondás, áldozat, feláldoz, lemond, áldozatot hoz, áldozatbemutatás, rituális áldozat, áldozatként felajánl, áldozatul bemutat, feláldozás, áldozati játék, áldoz, hősi áldozat, legnagyobb áldozat, önfeláldozás
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
make a sacrifice for [someone/something]
Raising three children on one income was a real sacrifice for them.
Három gyermeket egyetlen jövedelemből felnevelni nagy áldozatot jelentett számukra.
She made a huge sacrifice to care for her sick father instead of taking the promotion abroad.
Hatalmas áldozatot hozott azzal, hogy a külföldi előléptetés helyett beteg apját gondozta.
The athletes know that success requires sacrifice, especially of free time and social life.
Moving to a smaller apartment was a financial sacrifice they chose to make to pay off their debts.
He thanked his parents for their sacrifices so he could go to university.
Learner examples
My parents made many sacrifices so I could study.
A szüleim sok áldozatot hoztak azért, hogy tanulhassak.
Saving money for a house means a lot of sacrifice now.
A házra gyűjtés most sok lemondással jár.
She sees her long hours at work as a necessary sacrifice.
He thinks the sacrifice is worth it for a better future.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sacrifice' with 'offer'. 'Sacrifice' means you lose something valuable for a greater good, while 'offer' just means you present or give something, often without the strong sense of loss.
Meaning
act of giving up something valuable
Collocations
make a sacrifice
|personal sacrifice
|huge sacrifice
|at great sacrifice
|require sacrifice
Synonyms
giving up (a more general, everyday term that does not always suggest a higher purpose or benefit for others)
Antonyms
gain (focuses on getting something extra or positive, while a sacrifice focuses on losing something for a higher goal)
Themes
relationships
|work
|ethics
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
when you give up something important, like time or money, to help someone or reach a goal
The act of giving up something you value, such as time, money, or comfort, in order to help someone else or achieve a more important goal.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to sacrifice [something] for [someone/something]
Many parents sacrifice their own dreams so their children can follow theirs.
Sok szülő feláldozza a saját álmait, hogy a gyerekei megvalósíthassák a sajátjukat.
The company refused to sacrifice quality just to cut costs.
A cég nem volt hajlandó feláldozni a minőséget csak azért, hogy csökkentse a költségeket.
She sacrificed her weekend to finish the report on time.
He sacrificed his social life for several years to build his business.
They are not willing to sacrifice their values for short-term success.
Learner examples
She sacrificed her holiday to look after her mother.
Feláldozta a nyaralását, hogy gondoskodjon az anyjáról.
He sacrificed his free time to study English.
Feláldozta a szabadidejét, hogy angolul tanuljon.
They sacrificed comfort to save money.
We sometimes have to sacrifice small things for a big goal.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'sacrifice for something'* without saying what is sacrificed. Use the object: 'sacrifice **time** for my family', not just 'sacrifice for my family'.
Meaning
to give up something valuable
Collocations
sacrifice time
|sacrifice your career
|sacrifice comfort
|sacrifice profits
|sacrifice quality
Synonyms
give up (more informal and common in speech; may sound less serious or noble than 'sacrifice')
Antonyms
protect (to keep something safe and unchanged, which is the opposite of choosing to lose it for another purpose)
Themes
relationships
|work
|ethics
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
to stop having or using something important so you can help someone or reach a goal
To give up something you value, such as time, money, or opportunities, in order to help someone else or achieve a more important goal.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
offer a sacrifice to [a god/spirit]
Archaeologists found evidence of human sacrifice at the ancient temple site.
A régészek emberáldozatra utaló bizonyítékokat találtak az ősi templom lelőhelyén.
In some traditions, people bring food as a sacrifice to the gods during festivals.
Egyes hagyományokban az emberek ünnepek idején ételt visznek áldozatként az isteneknek.
The story describes a king who orders a blood sacrifice to win the favor of the spirits.
Animal sacrifice is still practiced in certain religious ceremonies around the world.
The priest placed the sacrifice on the altar and began to pray.
Learner examples
The old religion required animal sacrifice.
A régi vallás állatáldozatot követelt.
They made a sacrifice to their gods at the temple.
Áldozatot mutattak be isteneiknek a templomban.
Some cultures used human sacrifice in the past.
The priest burned the sacrifice on the altar.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this religious sense when they only mean 'a big effort' or 'loss' in everyday life. For normal life situations, use the general sense: 'make a sacrifice for your family', not 'make a human sacrifice for your family'.
Meaning
religious killing or ritual offering
Collocations
human sacrifice
|animal sacrifice
|ritual sacrifice
|blood sacrifice
|offer a sacrifice
Synonyms
offering (a more general religious word for something given to a god; it does not always include killing)
Antonyms
preservation (keeping something alive or unchanged, which contrasts with the destruction or loss involved in a ritual sacrifice)
Themes
religion
|history
|culture
Definition
a religious act where a person, animal, or thing is killed or given to a god or spirit
The religious act of killing or offering a person, animal, or object to a god or spirit, usually as part of a formal ritual.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
to sacrifice [a person/animal/thing] to [a god/spirit]
The legend says the tribe sacrificed a white bull to the sea god each spring.
A legenda szerint a törzs minden tavasszal egy fehér bikát áldozott fel a tengeristennek.
According to the myth, the villagers had to sacrifice one child every year.
A mítosz szerint a falusiaknak minden évben fel kellett áldozniuk egy gyermeket.
They sacrificed animals at the temple as part of the festival.
In the story, the hero refuses to sacrifice an innocent person to save himself.
Some ancient cultures sacrificed food and drink to honor their ancestors.
Learner examples
The people sacrificed a goat to their god.
Az emberek egy kecskét áldoztak fel az istenüknek.
In the story, they sacrifice a young girl.
A történetben feláldoznak egy fiatal lányt.
They sacrificed many animals at the festival.
The king did not want to sacrifice his son.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'sacrifice to someone'* without an object. For this meaning, you usually sacrifice **something** to a god: 'sacrifice a goat to the god', not 'sacrifice to the god' (unless the object is very clear from context).
Meaning
to kill or offer in ritual
Collocations
sacrifice animals
|sacrifice a goat
|sacrifice their enemies
|sacrifice a bull to the gods
|ritually sacrifice
Synonyms
offer up (often used in religious or formal contexts; slightly softer and less direct than 'sacrifice')
Antonyms
spare (to decide not to kill or harm, which is the opposite of choosing to sacrifice in this ritual sense)
Themes
religion
|history
|culture
Definition
to kill or give a person, animal, or thing to a god in a religious ceremony
To kill or give a person, animal, or object to a god or spirit as part of a religious ritual.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
a sacrifice in [chess/baseball/another game]
He won the game with a stunning queen sacrifice that opened up his opponent's king.
Lenyűgöző vezéráldozattal nyerte meg a játszmát, amely feltörte ellenfele királyállását.
The coach called for a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position.
Az edző áldozati buntot kért, hogy a futót pontszerző helyzetbe juttassa.
The team's early sacrifice paid off when they scored two runs on the next play.
Her pawn sacrifice in the opening created a strong attack on the king side.
The sacrifice fly allowed the runner on third base to score the winning run.
Learner examples
He made a queen sacrifice in the chess game.
Vezéráldozatot hozott a sakkjátszmában.
The batter hit a sacrifice fly to help his team score.
Az ütőjátékos áldozati fly-t ütött, amivel pontot segített szerezni a csapatának.
They used a sacrifice bunt to move the runner.
The pawn sacrifice gave her a strong attack.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'sacrifice' in sports means a mistake. In this sense, a sacrifice is done on purpose and is usually a smart move, not an error.
Meaning
planned loss in game for advantage
Collocations
sacrifice bunt
|sacrifice fly
|queen sacrifice
|pawn sacrifice
|brilliant sacrifice
Synonyms
gambit (mainly used in chess or strategy; suggests a clever risk taken at the beginning of a plan)
Antonyms
blunder (a serious mistake, often by accident, which contrasts with a sacrifice being planned and intentional)
Themes
sports
|games
|arts_entertainment
Definition
a move in a game or sport where you lose a piece or player on purpose to get a better chance to win
In games or sports, a planned move in which a player, piece, or scoring chance is deliberately given up in order to gain a better position or advantage.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
6
Usage pattern:
to sacrifice [a piece/player/chance] to [gain advantage]
He decided to sacrifice the queen to launch a powerful attack on the king.
Úgy döntött, feláldozza a vezért, hogy erőteljes támadást indítson a király ellen.
The manager chose to sacrifice the runner to move the tying run into scoring position.
A menedzser az áldozati játék mellett döntött, hogy a kiegyenlítő pontot jelentő futót pontszerző helyzetbe juttassa.
Sometimes you have to sacrifice a minor piece to gain control of the center.
They were willing to sacrifice a point early in the game to study their opponent's tactics.
In that position, it is common to sacrifice a pawn for rapid development.
Learner examples
She sacrificed her rook to checkmate him.
Feláldozta a bástyáját, hogy mattot adjon neki.
The team sacrificed a runner to win the game.
A csapat áldozati játékkal előrébb juttatott egy futót, hogy megnyerje a meccset.
He sacrificed a pawn for a strong attack.
They decided to sacrifice one point to learn the other team's style.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the everyday verb sense and not realize that, in games, a sacrifice is often a good strategy, not a sad loss.
Meaning
to deliberately lose piece or player
Collocations
sacrifice the queen
|sacrifice a pawn
|sacrifice a runner
|sacrifice a piece
|sacrifice the bishop
Synonyms
trade off (emphasizes exchanging one thing for another; less specific to games and sounds more general or business-like)
Antonyms
protect (to keep a piece or player safe instead of allowing it to be lost for advantage)
Themes
sports
|games
|arts_entertainment
Definition
to lose a piece or player on purpose in a game so you can get a better chance to win later
In games or sports, to deliberately give up a piece, player, or scoring chance in order to gain a strategic or long-term advantage.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
7
Usage pattern:
make the ultimate sacrifice
The president spoke about the sacrifice of those who died in the conflict.
Az elnök azok hősi áldozatáról beszélt, akik a konfliktusban meghaltak.
Monuments have been built to honor the sacrifice of fallen soldiers.
Emlékműveket emeltek az elesett katonák hősi áldozatának tiszteletére.
They will never forget the sacrifice their colleague made while saving the children.
On this day, we remember the sacrifice of people who fought for civil rights.
Her sacrifice saved many lives, and the community is deeply grateful.
Learner examples
He made the ultimate sacrifice to save his team.
Meghozta a legnagyobb áldozatot, hogy megmentse a csapatát.
We honor the sacrifice of the soldiers who died.
Tisztelgünk az elesett katonák hősi áldozata előtt.
Their sacrifice helped to protect the country.
The town remembers her sacrifice every year.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'ultimate sacrifice' means the 'biggest effort'. In formal English, it almost always means 'death', especially in military or public-service contexts.
Meaning
death for a cause or duty
Collocations
the ultimate sacrifice
|honor their sacrifice
|recognize their sacrifice
|sacrifice of our soldiers
|remember the sacrifice
Synonyms
martyrdom (often used in religious or political contexts and can imply being killed because of your beliefs)
Antonyms
survival (continuing to live, which contrasts with dying in the line of duty)
Themes
war
|ethics
|society
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
when someone dies while serving or helping others or their country
The act of giving up one’s life while serving or protecting a cause, country, or other people, especially described respectfully.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sacrifice
IPA
GB/sˈækɹəfˌaɪs/
US/sˈækɹəfˌaɪs/
Syllables & stress
sac - ri - fice (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sac)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sacrifice
- Plural: sacrifice, sacrifices
Verb
- Base: sacrifice
- 3rd Person Singular: sacrifices
- Present Participle: sacrificing
- Past: sacrificed
Word family
Forms
sacrifices
noun
sacrificing
verb
sacrificed
verb
Core family
sacrificial
adjective
Related words
self-sacrifice
noun
self-sacrificing
adjective
Advanced or less common
sacrificially
adverb
Expressions
human sacrifice
1/hjˈumən sˈækɹəfˌaɪs/
fixed phrase
formal
ritual killing of a person
a religious act where a person is killed as a gift to a god or spirit
Examples
- The film shows an ancient culture that practices human sacrifice.
- Historians still debate how common human sacrifice really was in that society.
make a sacrifice
1/mˈeɪk ə sˈækɹəfˌaɪs/
fixed phrase
give something up for a purpose
to give up something important, like time or money, to help someone or reach a goal
Examples
- Sometimes you have to make a sacrifice now to have a better life later.
- She made a sacrifice and used her savings to pay for her sister’s education.
make sacrifices
1/mˈeɪk sˈækɹəfˌaɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
often give things up for goals
to give up many important things over time to help someone or reach a goal
Examples
- Parents sometimes have to make sacrifices so their children can have more chances in life.
- If you want to be a professional athlete, you must be ready to make sacrifices.
sacrifice bunt
1/sˈækɹəfˌaɪs bˈʌnt/
fixed phrase
technical
bunt to advance a runner
in baseball, a light hit made on purpose so the batter is probably out, but a runner can move to the next base
Examples
- The coach signaled for a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position.
- His perfect sacrifice bunt put two men in scoring position with one out.
sacrifice fly
1/sˈækɹəfˌaɪs flˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
technical
fly ball out that scores a run
in baseball, a high ball that is caught, but the batter is out and a runner scores a point
Examples
- He hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to win the game.
- The team scored their only run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
sacrifice oneself
1/sˈækɹəfˌaɪs wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
give up your own safety for others
to risk or lose your own life, health, or happiness to help other people
Examples
- He was ready to sacrifice himself to save the children from the burning building.
- The nurse sacrificed herself during the epidemic to care for patients.
the ultimate sacrifice
1/ðə ˈʌltəmɪt sˈækɹəfˌaɪs/
idiom
formal
death in the line of duty
death while serving or protecting other people or a cause
Examples
- They thanked the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
- Many soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.