rite

noun

ˈrīt 

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

• ritual
• ceremony

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 film begins with our protagonist, Ahmed, carrying out his late father’s funeral rites while verses are read from an ancient Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita. —Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025

First introduced in 2003, the return of the PSL has become an annual rite of late summer since Starbucks introduced the drink. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025

Hop on your bike and join this annual rite marking the unofficial end of summer. —Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025

The rite introduced private confession to a priest, who ritually represents both Christ and the wider church. —Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing rite

• initiation rite
• rite of passage
• Scottish rite
• York rite

Rhymes for rite

• bight
• bite
• blight
• byte
• cite
• dight
• fight
• fite
• flight
• fright
• height
• hight

Kids Definition

rite

noun

ˈrīt 

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