order

American  

[awr-der] / ˈɔr dər /

noun

• orders
  plural

1. an authoritative direction or instruction; command; mandate.

   Synonyms:

   injunction, decree, fiat, ordinance, ukase

2. a command of a court or judge.

3. a command or notice issued by a military organization or a military commander to troops, sailors, etc.

4. the disposition of things following one after another, as in space or time; succession or sequence.

   The names were listed in alphabetical order.

5. a condition in which each thing is properly disposed with reference to other things and to its purpose; methodical or harmonious arrangement.

   You must try to give order to your life.

   Synonyms:

   regularity

6. formal disposition or array.

   the order of the troops.

7. proper, satisfactory, or working condition.

8. state or condition generally.

   His financial affairs were in good order.

9. conformity or obedience to law or established authority; absence of disturbance, riot, revolt, unruliness, etc..

   A police officer was there to maintain order.

10. customary mode of procedure; established practice or usage.

11. the customary or prescribed mode of proceeding in debates or the like, or in the conduct of deliberative or legislative bodies, public meetings, etc..

    At our board meetings we follow the parliamentary rules of order.

12. prevailing course or arrangement of things; established system or regime.

    The old order is changing.

13. conformity to the established system or regime.

14. a direction or commission to make, provide, or furnish something.

    The salesclerk will take your order.

15. a quantity of goods or items purchased or sold.

    The druggist is sending the order right over.

16. Grammar.

    1. the arrangement of the elements of a construction in a particular sequence, as the placing of John before the verb and of George after it in John saw George.

    2. the hierarchy of grammatical rules applying to a construction.

    3. the rank of immediate constituents.

17. any of the nine grades of angels in medieval angelology.

18. Mathematics.

    1. degree, as in algebra.

    2. the number of rows or columns of a square matrix or determinant.

    3. the number of times a function has been differentiated to produce a given derivative.

       a second order derivative.

    4. the order of the highest derivative appearing in a given differential equation: d 2 y/dx 2 + 3 y (dy/dx ) − 6 = 0 is a differential equation of order two.

    5. the number of elements of a given group.

    6. the smallest positive integer such that a given element in a group raised to that integer equals the identity.

    7. the least positive integer n such that permuting a given set n times under a given permutation results in the set in its original form.

19. any class, kind, or sort, as of persons or things, distinguished from others by nature or character.

    Such complex and difficult work calls for talents of a high order.

20. Biology. the usual major subdivision of a class or subclass in the classification of organisms, consisting of several families.

21. a rank, grade, or class of persons in a community.

    Synonyms:

    degree

22. a group or body of persons of the same profession, occupation, or pursuits.

    Rev. Thomas, Rabbi Feinman, and other members of the clerical order showed up at the town hall meeting.

23. a body or society of persons living by common consent under the same religious, moral, or social regulations.

    Synonyms:

    community, fraternity

24. Ecclesiastical. any of the degrees or grades of clerical office.

25. a monastic society or fraternity.

    He is a monk in the Franciscan order.

26. a written direction to pay money or deliver goods, given by a person legally entitled to dispose of it.

    delivery order;

    exchange order.

27. Architecture.

    1. any arrangement of columns with an entablature.

    2. any of five such arrangements typical of classical architecture, including the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders invented by the Greeks and adapted by the Romans, the Tuscan order, invented by the Romans, and the Composite order, first named during the Renaissance.

    3. any of several concentric rings composing an arch, especially when each projects beyond the one below.

28. orders, the rank or status of an ordained Christian minister.

29. Usually orders. the rite or sacrament of ordination.

30. a prescribed form of divine service or of administration of a rite or ceremony.

31. the service itself.

32. the visible structures essential or desirable to the nature of the church, involving especially ministry, polity, and sacraments.

33. a society or fraternity of knights, of combined military and monastic character, as, in the Middle Ages, the Knights Templars.

34. a modern organization or society more or less resembling the knightly orders.

    fraternal orders.

35. British. Order,

    1. a special honor or rank conferred by a sovereign upon a person for distinguished achievement.

    2. the insignia worn by such persons.

36. Chiefly British. a pass for admission to a theater, museum, or the like.

---

verb (used with object)

• orders,
  present (3rd person singular)
• ordered,
  past participle,  past
• ordering
  present participle

1. to give an order, direction, or command to.

   The infantry divisions were ordered to advance.

   Synonyms:

   ordain, require, bid, instruct

2. to direct or command to go or come as specified.

   to order a person out of one's house.

3. to prescribe.

   The doctor ordered rest for the patient.

4. to direct to be made, supplied, or furnished.

   to order a copy of a book.

5. to regulate, conduct, or manage.

   I need to order my life for greater leisure.

   Synonyms:

   systematize, adjust, operate, run

6. to arrange methodically or suitably.

   They ordered their chessmen for a game.

7. Mathematics. to arrange (the elements of a set) so that if one element precedes another, it cannot be preceded by the other or by elements that the other precedes.

8. to ordain, as God or fate does.

9. to invest with clerical rank or authority.

verb (used without object)

• orders,
  present (3rd person singular)
• ordered,
  past participle,  past
• ordering
  present participle

1. to give an order or issue orders.

   I wish to order, but the waiter is busy.

idioms

1. in short order, with promptness or speed; rapidly.

   The merchandise arrived in short order.

2. to order, according to one's individual requirements or instructions.

   a suit made to order;

   carpeting cut to order.

3. in order,

   1. fitting; appropriate.

      It appears that an apology is in order.

   2. in a state of proper arrangement, preparation, or readiness.

      Everything is in order for the departure.

   3. correct according to the rules of parliamentary procedure.

      Questions from the floor are now in order.

4. on order, ordered but not yet received.

   We're out of stock in that item, but it's on order.

5. out of order,

   1. inappropriate; unsuitable.

      His remark was certainly out of order.

   2. not operating properly; in disrepair.

      The air conditioner is out of order again.

   3. incorrect according to the rules of parliamentary procedure.

      The chairwoman told him that he was out of order.

6. call to order, to begin (a meeting).

   The meeting was called to order at 3 o'clock.

7. on the order of,

   1. resembling to some extent; like.

      I would like a dress on the order of the one in the window.

   2. approximately; about.

      On the order of 100,000 people attended the rally.

8. in order to, as a means to; with the purpose of.

   She worked summers in order to save money for college.

9. a tall order, a very difficult or formidable task, requirement, or demand: Also a large order.

   Getting the crop harvested with so few hands to help was a tall order.

10. in order that, so that; to the end that.

    We ought to leave early in order that we may not miss the train.

order British  

/ ˈɔːdə /

noun

1. a state in which all components or elements are arranged logically, comprehensibly, or naturally

2. an arrangement or disposition of things in succession; sequence

   alphabetical order

3. an established or customary method or state, esp of society

4. a peaceful or harmonious condition of society

   order reigned in the streets

5. (often plural) a class, rank, or hierarchy

   the lower orders

6. biology any of the taxonomic groups into which a class is divided and which contains one or more families. Carnivora, Primates, and Rodentia are three orders of the class Mammalia

7. an instruction that must be obeyed; command

8. a decision or direction of a court or judge entered on the court record but not included in the final judgment

9. 1. a commission or instruction to produce or supply something in return for payment

   2. the commodity produced or supplied

   3. ( as modifier )

      order form

10. a procedure followed by an assembly, meeting, etc

11. (capital when part of a name) a body of people united in a particular aim or purpose

12. Also called: religious order.  (usually capital) a group of persons who bind themselves by vows in order to devote themselves to the pursuit of religious aims

13. history a society of knights constituted as a fraternity, such as the Knights Templars

14. 1. a group of people holding a specific honour for service or merit, conferred on them by a sovereign or state

    2. the insignia of such a group

15. 1. any of the five major classical styles of architecture classified by the style of columns and entablatures used See also Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan composite

    2. any style of architecture

16. Christianity

    1. the sacrament by which bishops, priests, etc, have their offices conferred upon them

    2. any of the degrees into which the ministry is divided

    3. the office of an ordained Christian minister

17. a form of Christian Church service prescribed to be used on specific occasions

18. Judaism one of the six sections of the Mishna or the corresponding tractates of the Talmud

19. maths

    1. the number of times a function must be differentiated to obtain a given derivative

    2. the order of the highest derivative in a differential equation

    3. the number of rows or columns in a determinant or square matrix

    4. the number of members of a finite group

20. short for order of magnitude

21. military the dress, equipment, or formation directed for a particular purpose or undertaking

    drill order

    battle order

22. something difficult, demanding, or exacting

23. 1. in sequence

    2. properly arranged

    3. appropriate or fitting

24. (preposition; foll by an infinitive) so that it is possible to

    to eat in order to live

25. (conjunction) with the purpose that; so that

26. to maintain or enforce order

27. having an approximately specified size or quantity

28. having been ordered or commissioned but not having been delivered

29. 1. not in sequence

    2. not working

    3. not following the rules or customary procedure

30. 1. according to a buyer's specifications

    2. on request or demand

---

verb

1. (tr) to give a command to (a person or animal to do or be something)

2. to request (something) to be supplied or made, esp in return for payment

   he ordered a hamburger

3. (tr) to instruct or command to move, go, etc (to a specified place)

   they ordered her into the house

4. (tr; may take a clause as object) to authorize; prescribe

   the doctor ordered a strict diet

5. (tr) to arrange, regulate, or dispose (articles) in their proper places

6. (of fate or the gods) to will; ordain

7. rare (tr) to ordain

interjection

1. an exclamation of protest against an infringement of established procedure

2. an exclamation demanding that orderly behaviour be restored

order Scientific  

/ ôr′dər /

1. A group of organisms ranking above a family and below a class.

2. See Table at taxonomy

---

order Cultural  

1. In biology, the classification lower than a class and higher than a family. Dogs and cats belong to the order of carnivores; human beings, monkeys, and apes belong to the order of primates. Flies and mosquitoes belong to the same order; so do birch trees and oak trees. (See Linnean classification.)

---

order More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing order

• apple-pie order
• back order
• call to order
• in order
• in short order
• just what the doctor ordered
• law and order
• made to order
• marching orders
• on order
• on the order of
• out of order
• pecking order
• put one's house in order
• short order
• standing orders
• tall order
• to order

---

Synonym Usage

See direct.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterorder
  noun
• orderer
  noun
• preorder
  noun
• misorder
  verb
• orderable
  adjective
• orderless
  adjective
• unorderable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• orders
  plural

Participles

• ordering
  present
• ordered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• order
  simple
• orders
  simple
• have ordered
  perfect
• has ordered
  perfect
• am ordering
  progressive
• are ordering
  progressive
• is ordering
  progressive
• have been ordering
  perfect progressive
• has been ordering
  perfect progressive

Past

• ordered
  simple
• had ordered
  perfect
• was ordering
  progressive
• were ordering
  progressive
• had been ordering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will order
  simple
• will have ordered
  perfect
• will be ordering
  progressive
• will have been ordering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of order

First recorded in 1175–1225; noun Middle English ordre, order(e), from Old French ordre, from Latin ordin- (stem of ordō ) “row, rank, regular arrangement”; the verb is derivative of the noun

Explanation

Order is the formal arrangement of things — putting that pile of paper on your desk into neat stacks of bills, papers, letters, to-do lists, and napkin poems. Order has many meanings. You can put a line of people in order from tallest to shortest, or from youngest to oldest. As a verb, order also means "command:" Talk out of turn in court and the judge will order you to be quiet. In a restaurant you give the waiter your order, which is what you want to eat, not your idea of how to organize the pantry. An order is also a group, like the Freemasons or the Order of St. Benedict.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

order orders ordered ordering

While this anniversary is significant to Ukraine, it is part of a much larger story of how the global order has changed over the past 3½ decades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

More than once, she said, she has had to order planes to slow down or alter their trajectories to avoid accidents.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

A January executive order from Trump greenlighted the first-of-its-kind auto race.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

In 2020, a ketogenic or keto diet promoting high-fat and low-carbohydrate consumption in order to burn fat was the most Googled diet in the United States.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

“You didn’t have to know her in order to know her,” Aunt Tess insists.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

And, notably, they eat Cane’s, whether it’s buying entire orders of just Texas toast or dunking their entire hand into a fountain cup of Cane’s Sauce and licking it off their fingers.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026

The company ranks suppliers by their flexibility and ability to deliver urgent orders, and regularly eliminates the poorest performers, according to a 2021 Zhongtai Securities report.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

A late virtual safety car led to some team orders controversy at Mercedes as George Russell was ordered to let Antonelli past into second place, leaving him vulnerable to Hamilton.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

Beneath those questions lurked a growing suspicion that the orders had something to do with artificial-intelligence companies’ insatiable need for new content to train their large language models.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

The commanders of the other subs read the same orders.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

The group has already ordered 50,000 job cuts and Blume said that agreements have already been reached with 37,000 employees.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

In April 2025, a US judge ordered the administration to restore the Associated Press's access to presidential events after it was blocked in a dispute over the term "Gulf of America".

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

They ordered dozens, even hundreds of books at a time, on completely unrelated subjects, and routed them through logistics warehouses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

A Connecticut jury separately ordered Jones to pay nearly $1 billion to families of eight victims and an FBI agent who responded to the shooting.

From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026

We beat the dungeon mere seconds before Lorren’s mom ordered her to get off the game or she’d shut off the electricity in the whole house.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

“Black men are definitely ordering more protein,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

For property giant Evergrande, the face of China's real estate woes, an excruciating saga that has dragged on for years culminated on Thursday with court rulings ordering fines and jail terms.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

Attorneys general from Iowa, Arkansas, and Missouri had sought an injunction against the EPA to stop them from ordering states to evaluate their water utilities’ cybersecurity operational technology when they conducted inspections.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

Uber struck a deal with the drone startup Zipline to begin delivering orders through the air, betting that faster fulfillment will get consumers ordering more often.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

I asked Josephine, who was ordering everyone around in the kitchen.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

Related Words

• authorization
• charge
• decree
• direction
• directive
• injunction
• instruction
• law
• mandate
• permission
• regulation
• rule