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ritual

ritual

274 4.6
A fixed set of actions performed in a ceremony, often for religion
  • noun
  • /ˈrɪtʃuəl/
: ritual
  • OK, I heard that if we do this ritual, we will connect with the spirit world.
  • perform a ritual
  • a religious ritual
  • healing ritual

They were doing, they were doing rituals and sacrifices to the gods.

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Examples

  • And it involves A ritual bathing and anointing with with oil.

  • A jar full of holy water accompanies the ritual of the visit to the saint's tomb.

    Academic text (2008)
  • And men have to go through a number of rituals before they can marry.

  • A wedding is probably the greatest social ritual humanity has.

  • This is a sacred family ritual.

  • A chosen couple perform a ritual, honoring the newly born children.

  • Here we look at the Jewish rituals of the Sabbath.

  • Let the ritual begin.

  • The funeral shroud is the final step in the ritual of self-purification.

  • Every culture has its own unique ritual to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Synonyms

ceremony
vsritual
718 2.5

A formal event that follows traditional rules for a special occasion

includes fixed action sets used in daily or private practice
service
vsritual
300 4.2

A religious meeting for public worship, often in a church

is not always public, covering closed or personal ceremonial acts
rite
vsritual
  • Formal
117 6.3

A formal ceremony often held as part of a religious tradition

is broader, including informal fixed actions and customs
liturgy
vsritual
27 8.9

A planned public worship service with fixed prayers and actions

is wider, applying outside formal public worship too
observance
vsritual
  • Formal
11 4.7

A formal event to mark or honor a special day

emphasizes routine or fixed action patterns rather than single events
9 2.9

A formal event where people meet to show shared beliefs with prayers and rituals

can also mean repeated action patterns beyond formal events
7 2.8

A public event where people pray, sing, and listen in a church or temple

also covers nonpublic or customary action sequences in traditions
religious ritual
vsritual
5 4.2

A ceremony with set actions from a religion like prayers and singing

is broader, not limited to only religious traditions
puja
vsritual
4 9.3

A Hindu ceremony with prayers and offerings to honor a god

is general and applies across cultures, not only one religion
religious rite
vsritual
2 4.1

A formal ceremony that people follow as part of a religion

is more general and covers nonformal traditional actions
ceremonial occasion
vsritual
  • Formal
1 4.9

A formal gathering with planned rituals to mark an important event

is broader, also including repeated private or daily actions
divine service
vsritual
1 7.4

A public ceremony in a church where people pray and sing

may also refer to private or traditional action sequences

Compounds

A ceremony with set actions from a religion like prayers and singing

2 5.8

A dance performed during a religious or traditional ceremony

Actions people or animals do to attract a partner before starting a relationship

ritual killing
  • Offensive
1 9.7

An event where someone or an animal is put to death during a religious ceremony to please a god

A dance done during religious or ceremonial events like weddings and funerals

A regular routine before bed that helps you relax

papistic ritual
  • Archaic
9.9

A church ceremony like those used in the Catholic Church

How Formal

sacrament
45 9.5
rite
  • Formal
117 6.3
ceremony
718 2.5
ritual
274 4.6
observance
8 4.7

Surface Forms

ritual singular
rituals plural

Etymology

Ritual comes from the old Latin word ritus, which means 'rite' or 'ceremony'. So a ritual is a set of fixed actions used in a ceremony.