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
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
An Overview of the Ceremony 6 hr 59 min ago
The funeral Mass, presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will begin at 10 a.m. local time on Saturday and end around 2 p.m. and include a choir, readings, prayers and communion, among other rites.
—
Adam Carlson, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Conclusion of Mass Final rites: Ultima Commendatio and Valedictio.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
While Francis wanted a less opulent burial than is traditional for popes and made changes to the church's book on funeral rites, some of the usual elements such as the three stations of the procedure, named after where those key moments take place, remain in place.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Some experts say that liturgically, the new rules don’t veer far from the previous rites, with tweaks here or there.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rite
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Adam Carlson, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Conclusion of Mass Final rites: Ultima Commendatio and Valedictio.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
While Francis wanted a less opulent burial than is traditional for popes and made changes to the church's book on funeral rites, some of the usual elements such as the three stations of the procedure, named after where those key moments take place, remain in place.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Some experts say that liturgically, the new rules don’t veer far from the previous rites, with tweaks here or there.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rite
Cite this Entry
“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rite. Accessed 26 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rite
noun1
a
: a fixed form for a ceremony
b
: the ceremonial practices of a church or group of churches
2
: a ceremonial act or action
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