rote

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈrōt 

1

: the use of memory usually with little intelligence

learn by rote

2

: mechanical or unthinking routine or repetition

a joyless sense of order, rote, and commercial hustle

—L. L. King

rote

2 of 4

adjective

1

: learned or memorized by rote

2

: mechanical sense 3a

rotely adverb

rote

3 of 4

noun (2)

: crowd entry 3 sense 1

rote

4 of 4

noun (3)

: the noise of surf on the shore

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• drill
• grind
• groove
• lockstep
• pattern
• routine
• rut
• treadmill

Examples of rote in a Sentence

Noun (1)

learned the rote for the exercise warm-up but not the reasoning behind it

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sakamoto was a savvy and thoughtful performer — never doing anything by rote, often improvising, aware of his audience and in playful conversation with them. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2024

Few of them came to Washington expecting that performing rote tasks like keeping the government operating and maintaining America’s credit rating would amount to career highlights. —Robert Draper, New York Times, 30 May 2024

Adjective

Why American universities are the best in the world American universities used to be small centers of rote learning, but three big ideas turned them into intellectual powerhouses. —Big Think, 24 June 2024

At its July meeting, the board rejected 31 of the 33 purchase offers without explanation beyond a rote recitation that they were deemed insufficient, the commissioners felt the buyer didn’t have the resources to carry through with their plan, or both. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hruozza crowd

Noun (3)

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse rauta to roar — more at rout entry 5

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1610, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rote

1 of 2 noun

ˈrōt 

1

: the use of memory usually without thinking about it

learn by rote

repeat something by rote

2

: something done time after time in an automatic way or without thinking

rote

2 of 2 adjective

1

: done or learned by rote

rote learning of multiplication tables

a rote phrase

2

: done or carried out without engaging the mind or feelings

rote duties

ask a rote question