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 …

—Larry 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 of rote

Noun (1)

• routine
• grind

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

And in this rote, dutiful steadiness, I was struck by the patient sincerity of it all—and by a sense that these believers were already fomenting, in admittedly small numbers, the kind of unity that Esperanto’s skeptics say the language could never help facilitate. —Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

Map where decisions actually happen, and design AI support to enhance judgment loops, not automate rote tasks. —Alejandro Martinez, Forbes.com, 12 May 2026

Adjective

However, even for the Rimbaud-faithful in the crowd, Wang never seems satisfied with rote presentation, and warps the confines of his form with magnificent imagination. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 June 2026

From nine finalists to one champion All told, there were seven spelling rounds and one multiple-choice vocabulary round, which was added to the onstage competition in 2021 to put less emphasis on rote memorization. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 29 May 2026

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

Rhymes for rote

• bloat
• boat
• choate
• coat
• cote
• dote
• float
• gloat
• goat
• groat
• haute
• moat

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