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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In some cultures of the ancient Middle East, tattoos had a religious meaning, such as being used in fertility and funeral rites.
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Gustavo Morello, The Conversation, 10 July 2024
Nekhbet’s priestesses performed their rites dressed in vulture feathers.
—Ian Rose, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2024
Zozobra is also considered a sacred rite of renewal, says Judith Moir, event deputy.
—Heather Mundt, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Aug. 2024
As the sun set and their outlines faded, the casters looked more like a society of dwarves performing the first in a series of ancient rites.
—Ellyn Gaydos, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for rite 
Gustavo Morello, The Conversation, 10 July 2024
Nekhbet’s priestesses performed their rites dressed in vulture feathers.
—Ian Rose, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2024
Zozobra is also considered a sacred rite of renewal, says Judith Moir, event deputy.
—Heather Mundt, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Aug. 2024
As the sun set and their outlines faded, the casters looked more like a society of dwarves performing the first in a series of ancient rites.
—Ellyn Gaydos, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for rite
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rite. Accessed 25 Oct. 2024.
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