* Formal and Religious: The ancient Egyptians performed elaborate rites for their dead.
* Traditional: It's a rite of passage for young men to go on a solo backpacking trip.
* Specific Action: The priest led the congregation through the rite of baptism.
* Figurative: Writing a novel is a rite of passage for aspiring authors.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or would like to see "rite" used in a specific context!