ritual
1 of 2adjective
rit·u·al ˈri-chə-wəl 
-chəl;
ˈrich-wəl
1
: of or relating to rites or a ritual : ceremonial
a ritual dance
2
: according to religious law
ritual purity
3
: done in accordance with social custom or normal protocol
ritual handshakes
ritual background checks
ritually adverb
ritual
2 of 2noun
1
: the established form for a ceremony
specifically : the order of words prescribed for a religious ceremony
2
a
: ritual observance
specifically : a system of rites
b
: a ceremonial act or action
c
: an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner
Synonyms
Noun
- custom
- fashion
- habit
- habitude
- pattern
- practice
- practise
- second nature
- trick
- way
- wont
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The priest will perform the ritual. He was buried simply, without ceremony or ritual. the daily ritual of preparing breakfast His day-to-day life is based on ritual.
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2022 Stern added that Israel must also play a role in ensuring Jewish life can thrive in the Diaspora, such as opposing government policies that ban fundamental Jewish needs, like ritual slaughter or circumcision. Maayan Hoffman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022 The ritual hand shake, and then the victory twirl, which her glittery black cocktail dress was made for. Amy Bass, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 Then came their friends, the ritual removal of masks, and hugs. Ben Mcgrath, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Abe’s family paid tribute to him in a private Buddhist ritual Thursday marking the 49th day since his assassination. Mari Yamaguchi, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Aug. 2022 In India, champi, or ritual hair massage, served as a beautiful experience for Chaudhuri and her sister (the Shaz half of Shaz & Kiks) to share with their mother and grandmother. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 22 Aug. 2022 For almost two decades, my husband, Stephen, and I, and our sons, Finn and James (now 17 and 14, respectively), made our ritual summer exodus from steamy Brooklyn, New York, to our beloved camp in Maine. Kathleen Hackett, Country Living, 16 Aug. 2022 Its capitol is a Greek Revival pile inspired by a monument in Athens -- the Greek Athens -- honoring Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, ritual madness, and theater. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022 Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 There are a few important points that people often miss: a focus on encouraging blood circulation, the familial bonding ritual, and the application of nutrients onto dry hair. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 22 Aug. 2022 The entire ritual is intricate and obsessive—and nearly impossible to disrupt. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2022 Grandpa is nervous all day and doesn’t know how to tell Karl that this slaughter is the last, because the ritual is more important than ever to the widower in question. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 June 2022 But American ritual is to decide whose citizenship matters, to police whose lives are worth saving. Jeneé Osterheldt, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Feb. 2022 The ritual of smoking was more elaborate for some, but everyone had their own unique approach. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 6 Jan. 2022 Fraser made a daily ritual of staying up and monitoring the pipes. Kenrick Cai, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 The ritual of performing, stand-up comics often say, provides a release impossible to find elsewhere. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2022 See More
Adjective
Mexican police find 150 skulls in cave from an ancient ritual sacrifice. Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2022 Stern added that Israel must also play a role in ensuring Jewish life can thrive in the Diaspora, such as opposing government policies that ban fundamental Jewish needs, like ritual slaughter or circumcision. Maayan Hoffman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022 The ritual hand shake, and then the victory twirl, which her glittery black cocktail dress was made for. Amy Bass, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 Then came their friends, the ritual removal of masks, and hugs. Ben Mcgrath, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Abe’s family paid tribute to him in a private Buddhist ritual Thursday marking the 49th day since his assassination. Mari Yamaguchi, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Aug. 2022 In India, champi, or ritual hair massage, served as a beautiful experience for Chaudhuri and her sister (the Shaz half of Shaz & Kiks) to share with their mother and grandmother. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 22 Aug. 2022 For almost two decades, my husband, Stephen, and I, and our sons, Finn and James (now 17 and 14, respectively), made our ritual summer exodus from steamy Brooklyn, New York, to our beloved camp in Maine. Kathleen Hackett, Country Living, 16 Aug. 2022 Its capitol is a Greek Revival pile inspired by a monument in Athens -- the Greek Athens -- honoring Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, ritual madness, and theater. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022 Noun
The simile, which locates something barbaric in the trappings of classical culture, places nervous, reasonable Trelawny in a world of archaic ritual and potentially cathartic extremity. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 There are a few important points that people often miss: a focus on encouraging blood circulation, the familial bonding ritual, and the application of nutrients onto dry hair. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 22 Aug. 2022 The entire ritual is intricate and obsessive—and nearly impossible to disrupt. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2022 Grandpa is nervous all day and doesn’t know how to tell Karl that this slaughter is the last, because the ritual is more important than ever to the widower in question. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 June 2022 But American ritual is to decide whose citizenship matters, to police whose lives are worth saving. Jeneé Osterheldt, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Feb. 2022 The ritual of smoking was more elaborate for some, but everyone had their own unique approach. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 6 Jan. 2022 Fraser made a daily ritual of staying up and monitoring the pipes. Kenrick Cai, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 The ritual of performing, stand-up comics often say, provides a release impossible to find elsewhere. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin ritualis, from ritus rite
First Known Use
Adjective
1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
ritual
noun
rit·u·al ˈri-chə-wəl
: a ceremony or series of acts that is always performed the same way
Medical Definition
ritual
noun
rit·u·al ˈrich-(ə-)wəl
: any act or practice regularly repeated in a set precise manner for relief of anxiety
obsessive-compulsive rituals
rituals
noun
1
as in habits
a usual manner of behaving or doing her morning ritual is to enjoy a bracing cup of coffee while reading the newspaper Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- habits
- practices
- customs
- tricks
- ways
- routines
- patterns
- tendencies
- practises
- fashions
- inclinations
- habitudes
- styles
- modes
- conventions
- manners
- wonts
- usages
- characteristics
- addictions
- proclivities
- traits
- regimens
- regimes
- uses
- mores
- forms
- dispositions
- grooves
- turns
- affectations
- bags
- drills
- sets
- attributes
- ruts
- peculiarities
- rotes
- eccentricities
- quirks
- bents
- tics
- tenors
- singularities
- poses
- airs
- oddities
- deportments
- régimes
- kinks
- jog trots
- marks
2
as in ceremonies
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules a ritual that the ancient peoples of that country believed would bring rain Synonyms & Similar Words
- ceremonies
- ceremonials
- rites
- observances
- traditions
- celebrations
- solemnities
- practices
- formalities
- forms
- habits
- customs
- civilities
- protocols
- proprieties
- etiquettes
- standards
- services
- conventions
- manners
- graces
- amenities
- mores
- decorums
- practises
- ways