on order

Idioms

Requested but not yet delivered, as in Our new sofa is on order. This term is always used for goods of some kind, the noun order having been used in the sense of “a commission for goods” since the early 1800s.

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.

A key focus for ASML’s earnings call will be executive commentary on order outlook and High-NA EUV machine adoption.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

The CIA concluded that the assassination was carried out by Saudi operatives, on order of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

“Each of our aircraft on order have been carefully factored into Emirates’ growth plan, which is aligned to Dubai’s growth plans.”

From MarketWatch • Nov. 17, 2025

Manufacturing a Rafale takes around two to three years, and the company said last month it still had 233 jets on order that it aimed to deliver over the next five years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

“I got new seats on order from the wholesaler in Sarasota, but they won’t be here till Wednesday.”

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023