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 criticizes helicopter parenting, decries remote work and tells women they should be willing to “piss people off” in order to be good leaders.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
His shirt listed five priorities, in order: Affordability, good experience, safety, peanuts, fan surveys.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality,” she said in a statement to The Washington Post.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
Two-thirds of new college graduates say they would take a job with lower pay in order to gain more long-term job security, according to a survey from job-search platform Monster released late last month.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
For the purposes of this testimony, I will pause here to confess two important details, in order to explain what happened after.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
Definitions 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.
