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 breezy, rite-of-spring dance down Cannes’ many red carpets for these past few days and for the next week seems best if it’s muted, and even a bit austere. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026

He was visited by a priest on Monday, May 4, who performed the last rites. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026

Rifling through the outdoor lot, where books are arranged by price on open metal shelving, is a Boston rite of literary passage. —Cameron Sperance, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026

Wearing a surgical mask to hold off the dank air, Reyes chose a bike and, before going to work on its components, performed the last rite for its former life. —Los Angeles Times, 1 May 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