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

The risk of transmission also limits contact with the patients even after death, depriving families of closure and the opportunity to observe their preferred burial rites. — Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

On the third day, and again on the seventh, the deceased is remembered through prayers and memorial rites. — Shushan Karapetian, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026

At that time, the Catholic Church banned funeral rites and burial on consecrated grounds for those who died by suicide. — Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026

Cremation is an important final rite in the Hindu tradition and performing the ceremony even without a body provides a sense of spiritual release for some families. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

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