rite

noun

ˈrīt How to pronounce rite (audio)
Synonyms of rite
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 of rite

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The ceremonies provide an outlet for the grief and uncertainty that have gripped so many in Nepal, and ensure that a key religious rite is afforded to the dead. — Andrew Jones, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 The symbolic funeral pyres were surrounded by offerings to Hindu deities as relatives gathered to perform the final rites. — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Its rise also marks the beginning of the Hindu celebration of Pitru Paksha, during which worshippers perform rites to honor ancestors by offering prayers and food to past members of their families. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 Aug. 2026 On a construction site in Hainan Province, on the sub-tropical southern tip of China, a reactor barely the height of a four-story building has spent 2026 working through the final rites of commissioning that precede commercial nuclear power. — Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rite

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin ritus; akin to Greek arithmos number — more at arithmetic

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rite was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing rite

Rhymes for rite

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Browse Nearby Words

ritardando
rite
rite de passage
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Cite this Entry

“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rite. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rite

noun
ˈrīt How to pronounce rite (audio)
1
a
: a fixed form for a ceremony
b
: the ceremonial practices of a church or group of churches
2
: a ceremonial act or action

More from Merriam-Webster on rite

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rite

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