1
a
: a prescribed form or manner governing the words or actions for a ceremony
b
: the ceremonial practices of a church or group of churches
2
: a ceremonial act or action
initiation rites
3
: a division of the Christian church using a distinctive liturgy
Synonyms
Examples of rite in a Sentence
Incense is often burned in their religious rites.
the annual summer rite of loading up the car for the big family vacation
Recent Examples on the Web
The Past What Ötzi the Iceman can tell us about tattoos in cultural and religious rites
A 5,300-year-old mummy teaches us the global history of tattoos.
—
Big Think, 24 June 2024
Other club procedures and rites, which in another club might be dully bureaucratic, are, among the bikers, hair-raising trials.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 June 2024
In fact, though the specific definition of the term is still disputed, descriptions of secret societies tend to stress the sharing of secret knowledge and the administration of secret rites, rituals, and initiations, meant to set members and non-members apart.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024
Drawing on her Greek heritage, the designer looked to an annual rite as a starting point.
—Violet Goldstone, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for rite 
Big Think, 24 June 2024
Other club procedures and rites, which in another club might be dully bureaucratic, are, among the bikers, hair-raising trials.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 June 2024
In fact, though the specific definition of the term is still disputed, descriptions of secret societies tend to stress the sharing of secret knowledge and the administration of secret rites, rituals, and initiations, meant to set members and non-members apart.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024
Drawing on her Greek heritage, the designer looked to an annual rite as a starting point.
—Violet Goldstone, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for rite
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rite. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rite
noun1
a
: a fixed form for a ceremony
b
: the ceremonial practices of a church or group of churches
2
: a ceremonial act or action
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