rite
Americannoun
-
rites
plural
-
a formal or ceremonial act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious or other solemn use.
rites of baptism; sacrificial rites.
- Synonyms:
- usage, form, observance
-
a particular form or system of religious or other ceremonial practice.
the Roman rite.
-
(often initial capital letter) a liturgy or liturgical system, especially one of the historical versions of the Eucharistic service.
the Anglican Rite.
-
(sometimes initial capital letter) a division or differentiation of churches based on liturgical practice.
-
any customary observance or practice.
the rite of afternoon tea.
noun
-
a formal act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious ceremonies
fertility rites
the rite of baptism
-
a particular body of such acts or procedures, esp of a particular Christian Church
the Latin rite
-
a Christian Church
the Greek rite
Synonym Usage
See ceremony.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of rite
1275–1325; Middle English (< Old French rit ( e )) < Latin rītus
Explanation
A rite is a ceremony or event that leads to a new phase of life, like high school graduation or a bat mitzvah. Rites are rituals. Religions in particular have many rites, which include celebrations and sacraments such as baptism or confession. But people also use this word for any kind of event that signifies moving through a stage of life. For a football player, getting your first touchdown is a "rite of passage." Even a job interview could be considered a rite — it's a traditional ritual, something everyone has to go through before landing a first job.
Vocabulary lists containing rite
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A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Experiencing Jane Austen’s most famous work — whether on the page or on the screen — is a cultural rite of passage for many young women.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
The funeral was marked by the ritual sacrifice of two horses as part of the marapu rite, which most inhabitants of Sumba still follow, whether Christian or Muslim.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
The trip to the Spanish resort was Taylor's first holiday abroad without her parents, an all-girl rite of passage celebration with 16 friends after leaving secondary school.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Social media photos and videos of the Ohio Republican operating his pull-start Toro were a rite of spring.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
I told her that Perry had a rite to defend himself.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
It made up for missed teenage rites of passage — the senior prom, the homecoming dance, the debutante ball — by doubling down on sentimentality.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
The Patel family waited another month before they could cremate her remains, postponing Ashok's last rites so they could be done together.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
Today, it’s as though it’s waiting for last rites.
From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026
Pilgrims perform most of the hajj's rites outdoors where more than a million devotees gather in stifling conditions, with many attendees succumbing to heatstroke, fainting spells and even cardiac arrest triggered by the heat.
From Barron's ● May 25, 2026
I’ve been listening to burial rites from all over the world.
From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
