ðə mˈænɪfˌɛst fˈʌŋkʃən əvɚ ɹˈeɪn dˈæns, jˈuːzd æz ɐn ɛɡzˈæmpəl baɪ mˈɜːtən ɪn hɪz nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɛvən sˈoʊʃəl θˈiəɹi ænd sˈoʊʃəl stɹˈʌktʃɚ, ɪz tə pɹədˈuːs ɹˈeɪn, ænd ðɪs ˈaʊtkʌm ɪz ɪntˈɛndᵻd ænd dɪzˈaɪɚd baɪ pˈiːpəl pɑːɹtˈɪsᵻpˌeɪɾɪŋ ɪnðə ɹˈɪtʃuːəl.
The manifest function of a rain dance, used as an example by Merton in his 1957  Social Theory and Social Structure, is to produce rain, and this outcome is intended and desired by people participating in the ritual.