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
Whatever rite of expiration the university in general is going through these days—that of economics and its mistakes are reserved still for the future, because this discipline has refused to understand, let alone concede, that the switch in the monetary system back in the 1970s was a horrible idea.
—
Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Minutes later, the three bodies joined the stream of corpses carried from the hospital and through a crowd of distressed onlookers to a patch of paving stones where funeral rites were performed.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 9 July 2025
Osceola, meaning black drink singer, refers to a liquid a Seminole warrior would drink during purification rites, the National Park Service's website says.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 7 July 2025
Funeral rites are celebrated for nine days after his death.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rite
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Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Minutes later, the three bodies joined the stream of corpses carried from the hospital and through a crowd of distressed onlookers to a patch of paving stones where funeral rites were performed.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 9 July 2025
Osceola, meaning black drink singer, refers to a liquid a Seminole warrior would drink during purification rites, the National Park Service's website says.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 7 July 2025
Funeral rites are celebrated for nine days after his death.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 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 5 Aug. 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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