rite

noun

ˈrīt How to pronounce rite (audio)
Definition of ritenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rite In its review, the National Park Service found 4,304 objects that were likely associated with death rites or ceremonies, the agency said in a July 31 federal notice. — Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2026 The ceremonies provide an outlet for the grief and uncertainty that have gripped so many in Nepal, and ensure that a key religious rite is afforded to the dead. — Andrew Jones, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 The symbolic funeral pyres were surrounded by offerings to Hindu deities as relatives gathered to perform the final rites. — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Its rise also marks the beginning of the Hindu celebration of Pitru Paksha, during which worshippers perform rites to honor ancestors by offering prayers and food to past members of their families. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rite
  1. ritual
  2. ceremony
Noun
  • Brushing off tombstones is a regular ritual in some cultures, including in Mexico where entire families clean and decorate graves, which are covered with orange marigolds for Day of the Dead.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • What saunas may offer women PT and lymphatic drainage expert Sonia Rose told Women’s Health that warmth has long been a female comfort ritual.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of ritual
Noun
  • Machado was briefly detained in January 2025, following a protest against Maduro's planned swearing-in ceremony, and went into hiding in Venezuela for 11 months.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Adebayo, who took over as Heat captain when Haslem retired, is also on a path that could result in a Heat jersey retirement ceremony down the road.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of ceremony

Browse Nearby Words

risqué
rite
rites
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Cite this Entry

“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rite. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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