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 of rite

• 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

However, this raises the question of why the community bypassed their traditional, lengthier burial rites. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025

Visitation will be held on Thursday at Tezak Funeral Home in Joliet, with a chapel service and cremation rites to follow. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

Fewer people can count on the classic rites of passage anymore—or assume that those rites will make the rest of life easier. —Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2025

Over time, the rite has evolved into soft marketing for America’s multibillion dollar poultry industry. —Luke Fountain, CNBC, 25 Nov. 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