ritual
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a ceremony or series of actions performed in a fixed order, often as part of a religion.
n.a formal ceremony or series of acts that is always performed in the same way, typically within a religious or traditional framework.
Simple“The priest performed the ancient ritual of blessing the water.”
In context“Anthropologists spent years documenting the complex burial rituals of the tribe, noting how each gesture carried deep ancestral meaning.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'perform', 'observe', or 'carry out'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a series of actions that you always do in the same way because they are important to you.
n.a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, and objects, performed in a sequestered place and performed according to a set sequence.
Simple“My morning ritual involves drinking a cup of tea and reading the news.”
In context“For many professional athletes, the pre-game ritual is a vital psychological tool for maintaining focus and managing performance anxiety.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adj.done as part of a ceremony or a fixed pattern of behavior.
adj.relating to or done as a rite; following a prescribed or established ceremonial form.
Simple“The dancers wore ritual masks made of wood and feathers.”
In context“The investigation revealed that the markings on the stone were likely for ritual purposes rather than practical use.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“Some see them as sinister or hunt them for ritual use but these birds play a vital role in nature's cycle.”
“Ritual can be a choir in procession in a great cathedral or the simple act of putting down a violin bow.”
From Latin rītuālis (adjective), from rītus (“rite”) + -ālis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.