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.

But his earnings fluctuate constantly, depending on order volume, distance, and the incentives offered by the app.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 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

"But I assure that each and every aircraft on order has been carefully factored into Emirates' growth plans."

From Barron's • 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

“With a hot fudge sundae on order for when he wakes up.”

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

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