as in ritual
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules
the annual summer rite of loading up the car for the big family vacation
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Recent Examples of rite
By the power vested in him, Pritz conducted the rites inside the Egyptian.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
The service moved between prayer and music, including a traditional Ave Maria, before concluding with rites that saw mourners approach the coffin, which was draped in white lace, to pay their final respects.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Cleghorn writes speculatively and somewhat romantically of a culture in which women giving birth were sustained by ecstatic rites and practices conducted within the sacred protection of caves.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
In what's become an annual rite in Rhode Island, consumers are once again sounding off about the state's high winter utility costs.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rite
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
The service moved between prayer and music, including a traditional Ave Maria, before concluding with rites that saw mourners approach the coffin, which was draped in white lace, to pay their final respects.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Cleghorn writes speculatively and somewhat romantically of a culture in which women giving birth were sustained by ecstatic rites and practices conducted within the sacred protection of caves.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
In what's become an annual rite in Rhode Island, consumers are once again sounding off about the state's high winter utility costs.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rite
Noun
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Culture is key at A&M, where there are a number of student rituals around the football team and Kyle Field houses some of the largest crowds in the country.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
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On February 25, 1995, NBC telecast the inaugural presentation of what would become an annual ritual, the conferral of awards by the Screen Actors Guild, with the honorees from both the film and television screens chosen by the group’s 77,615 members.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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During the weekend, the honorees receive awards, meet the president, give speeches at State Department dinners, and then conclude at a bipartisan ceremony at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
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Pope Leo has been invited to lead the opening ceremony of the central tower next summer.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rite. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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