sacred
gb/sˈeɪkɹɪd/ us/sˈeɪkɹɪd/
B2
Inglês
~ 6600
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B2
property
1
holy; connected to religion
About God or religion, and very special and respected, like a holy place, book, or time.
Padrão de uso:
a sacred [place/text/object/ritual]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "sacred" with "scared" because they look similar. "Sacred" means holy or religious, while "scared" means afraid. Also, some learners use "sacred" for any important thing; for non‑religious importance, "special" or "important" is often more natural.
Sinónimos
holy (Almost the same meaning; slightly more common in everyday religious contexts.)
|
religious (Broader; can simply mean connected with religion without implying deep respect or holiness.)
|
hallowed (More literary; strongly emphasizes being made holy and deeply respected.)
Antónimos
secular (Describes things not connected with religion or the church.)
|
profane (Formal; means not sacred, or disrespectful toward religious things.)
Colocações
sacred place
|sacred ground
|sacred site
|sacred text
|sacred temple
|sacred ritual
Temas
religion
|culture
|society
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Pilgrims traveled for days to reach the sacred shrine at the top of the mountain.
- Visitors are asked to remove their shoes before entering the sacred temple.
- The museum displays sacred texts that are over a thousand years old.
- In many cultures, certain rivers are considered sacred and are used for religious ceremonies.
- They listened to a concert of sacred music performed in the old cathedral.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- This mountain is sacred to the local people.
- They prayed inside the sacred building.
- The priest read from a sacred book.
- We must be quiet in this sacred place.
- She writes songs for sacred music in the church.
adjective
C1
property
2
too important to be harmed or changed
Very important or special, so people think it must not be changed, hurt, or laughed at.
Padrão de uso:
a sacred [right/duty/tradition/time] for [someone]
Erro comum:
Learners may overuse "sacred" for any strong preference (e.g., "Coffee is sacred for me") where "very important" or "I really need coffee" sounds more natural. "Sacred" suggests a very high, almost untouchable level of importance. Also, do not confuse this use with religious meaning; context decides whether it is religious or just strongly valued.
Sinónimos
inviolable (Formal; stresses that something must not be broken or violated in any way.)
|
untouchable (Emphasizes that something cannot be criticized or changed, often because of social or political pressure.)
|
precious (Focuses more on emotional value; less about the idea that others must not question it.)
Antónimos
trivial (Suggests something is unimportant and not worth special protection.)
|
negotiable (Shows that something can be discussed, changed, or compromised, not treated as fixed or sacred.)
Colocações
sacred right
|sacred duty
|sacred principle
|sacred cow
|held sacred
|nothing is sacred
Temas
values
|society
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|politics
|law
Exemplos
- For many workers, weekends are sacred and they refuse to schedule meetings then.
- Freedom of speech is often described as a sacred right in democratic societies.
- In their family, dinner together is sacred time that no one is allowed to miss.
- He treats his morning run as sacred and never lets anything interrupt it.
- The committee questioned several sacred traditions that had never been challenged before.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- My Sunday mornings are sacred, so I do not make plans then.
- To her, honesty in a relationship is sacred.
- In this company, safety rules are sacred.
- He broke what was sacred to his friends: their trust.
- For many people, time with family is sacred.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
sacred
IPA
GB/sˈeɪkɹɪd/
US/sˈeɪkɹɪd/
Sílabas e acento
sac - red (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (sac)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: sacred
Família de palavras
Expressões
hold something sacred
1/hˈoʊld sˈʌmθɪŋ sˈeɪkɹɪd/
fixed phrase
formal
treat something as untouchable
To think that something is very special and must not be changed, hurt, or disrespected.
Exemplos
- Many people hold the right to vote sacred.
- They hold the memory of their ancestors sacred.
- In our culture, we hold hospitality sacred and always welcome guests.
nothing is sacred
1/nˈʌθɪŋ ˈɪz sˈeɪkɹɪd/
idiom
no topic is off-limits
Used to say that people are ready to joke about or attack anything, even things that are usually very serious or respected.
Exemplos
- The comedian's style is harsh; in his act, nothing is sacred.
- In the age of social media, it can feel like nothing is sacred anymore.
- She complained that in modern advertising nothing is sacred, not even childhood.
sacred and profane
1/sˈeɪkɹɪd ˈænd pɹoʊfˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
holy things versus ordinary things
Used to talk about the difference between holy or religious things and normal or non‑religious things.
Exemplos
- The book explores the boundary between the sacred and profane in modern life.
- In that culture, the sacred and profane are carefully kept apart.
- The festival mixes the sacred and profane, with both religious rites and street parties.
sacred duty
1/sˈeɪkɹɪd dˈuti/
fixed phrase
formal
very serious responsibility
A very serious responsibility that a person feels they must do.
Exemplos
- They saw it as their sacred duty to protect the environment.
- For many citizens, voting is a sacred duty.
- The soldier felt a sacred duty to serve his country.
sacred ground
1/sˈeɪkɹɪd ɡɹˈaʊnd/
fixed phrase
land considered holy or special
Land that people see as holy or very important, often for religious or historical reasons.
Exemplos
- We are walking on sacred ground, so please be respectful.
- For many Indigenous communities, this forest is sacred ground.
- The battlefield is now treated as sacred ground and carefully protected.
sacred place
1/sˈeɪkɹɪd plˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
place seen as holy or special
A place that people feel is holy or very important, usually because of religion or strong feelings.
Exemplos
- To them, the mountain is a sacred place.
- The small chapel is a sacred place for quiet prayer.
- The memorial has become a sacred place for the families of the victims.
sacred right
1/sˈeɪkɹɪd ɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
fundamental right not to be violated
A basic right that people believe must never be taken away or disrespected.
Exemplos
- They argued that freedom of speech is a sacred right.
- Access to clean water should be treated as a sacred right.
- He believed privacy in one's home was a sacred right.
sacred text
1/sˈeɪkɹɪd tˈɛkst/
fixed phrase
holy religious writing or book
A holy book or writing that is important for a religion.
Exemplos
- Students compared different sacred texts from around the world.
- Only priests were allowed to copy the sacred texts by hand.
- They listened as the sacred text was read aloud in the ceremony.
sacred trust
1/sˈeɪkɹɪd tɹˈʌst/
fixed phrase
formal
deeply serious responsibility or trust
A very serious responsibility that someone gives you because they trust you strongly.
Exemplos
- Parents have a sacred trust to care for their children.
- The leader spoke of the sacred trust placed in public officials.
- They treated the care of the ancient ruins as a sacred trust.
sacred cow
1/sˈeɪkɹɪd kˈaʊ/
idiom
belief or custom that cannot be questioned
A belief, custom, or thing that people do not want to change or talk badly about, even if change might be good.
Exemplos
- In that company, long working hours are a sacred cow that no manager dares to challenge.
- In that company, long meetings are a sacred cow that no one dares to challenge.
- The film questions many of society's sacred cows, including marriage and traditional gender roles.
- Free parking had become a sacred cow in the city’s politics.
- There should be no sacred cows in politics; every policy must be open to debate.
- The public health system is often treated as a sacred cow by many voters.