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
The world may have been upended by the war and the ink has barely dried on the Treaty of Versailles, but the society doyennes are doing their darnedest to return to the rituals and rites that used to govern our days. —
Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 Celebrating love is universal, but the exact rites and rituals vary. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026 The Masters is golf's rite of spring. —ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026 Amid what seems like constant change in golf, the Masters brings a degree of normalcy as golf's rite of spring and for many, the true opening week of the sport. —Doug Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rite
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.
Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 Celebrating love is universal, but the exact rites and rituals vary. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026 The Masters is golf's rite of spring. —ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026 Amid what seems like constant change in golf, the Masters brings a degree of normalcy as golf's rite of spring and for many, the true opening week of the sport. —Doug Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rite
Cite this Entry
“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/rite. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rite
noun
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
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