in order
Idioms-
In proper sequence or arrangement, as in The children lined up in order of size , or Are the letters all in order? [c. 1400]
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Suitable, correct, appropriate, as in A few words on this subject are in order now . [Mid-1800s]
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See in short order .
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in order that . So that, to the end or purpose that, as in In order that Bob can meet my husband, we've come early . [Early 1700s]
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in order to . For the purpose of, as a means to, as in We'll have to hire more help in order to finish on time . This usage always precedes a verb, such as finish in the example. [c. 1700]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She stays with her partner or travels for at least a month, maybe two, in order to comply with the 30-day minimum stay rule.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
The airport's consortium of owners has said they need explicit backing from Burnham before the end of the year in order to proceed with the project.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
Hernández and Tommy Edman struck out in order to end the inning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
Brad Smith, OpenAI investor Microsoft's president, warned Tuesday that industry and governments must "act with urgency" to create "real and effective safety standards" in order to rein in the risks of artificial intelligence.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
They didn’t need to see Mami and Baby in order to protect them.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
