order

1 of 2

verb

or·​der ˈȯr-dər 

ordered; ordering ˈȯr-d(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to put in order : arrange

The books are ordered alphabetically by author.

2

a

: to give an order to : command

They ordered everyone out of the house.

b

: destine, ordain

so ordered by the gods

c

: to command to go or come to a specified place

ordered back to the base

d

: to give an order for

order a meal

I ordered the books from the company's website.

The judge ordered a new trial.

intransitive verb

1

: to bring about order : regulate

a renascence of the spirit that orders and controls

—H. G. Wells

2

a

: to issue orders : command

The general orders and soldiers obey.

b

: to give or place an order

Be sure to order before it's too late.

orderable

ˈȯr-d(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

orderer

ˈȯr-dər-ər 

noun

order

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a group of people united in a formal way: such as

(1)

: a fraternal society

the Masonic Order

(2)

: a community under a religious rule

especially : one requiring members to take solemn vows

b

: a badge or medal of such a society

also : a military decoration

2

a

: any of the several grades of the Christian ministry

b

orders plural : the office of a person in the Christian ministry

c

orders plural : ordination

3

a

: a rank, class, or special group in a community or society

b

: a class of persons or things grouped according to quality, value, or natural characteristics: such as

(1)

: a category of taxonomic classification ranking above the family and below the class

(2)

: the broadest category in soil classification

4

a(1)

: rank, level

a statesman of the first order

(2)

: category, class

in emergencies of this order

—R. B. Westerfield

b(1)

: the arrangement or sequence of objects or of events in time

listed the items in order of importance

the batting order

(2)

: a sequential arrangement of mathematical elements

c

: degree sense 12a

d(1)

: the number of times differentiation is applied successively

derivatives of higher order

(2)

of a differential equation : the order of the derivative of highest order

e

: the number of columns or rows or columns and rows in a magic square, determinant, or matrix

the order of a matrix with 2 rows and 3 columns is 2 by 3

f

: the number of elements in a finite mathematical group

5

a(1)

: a sociopolitical system

was opposed to changes in the established order

(2)

: a particular sphere or aspect of a sociopolitical system

the present economic order

b

: a regular or harmonious arrangement

the order of nature

6

a

: a prescribed form of a religious service : rite

b

: the customary mode of procedure especially in debate

point of order

7

a

: the state of peace, freedom from confused or unruly behavior, and respect for law or proper authority

promised to restore order

see also law and order

b

: a specific rule, regulation, or authoritative direction : command

8

a

: a style of building

b

: a type of column and entablature forming the unit of a style

9

a

: state or condition especially with regard to functioning or repair

things were in terrible order

b

: a proper, orderly, or functioning condition

their passports were in order

the phone is out of order

10

a

: a written direction to pay money to someone

b

: a commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods or to perform work

c

: goods or items bought or sold

d

: an assigned or requested undertaking

landing men on the moon was a tall order

11

: order of the day

flat roofs were the order in the small villages

orderless

ˈȯr-dər-ləs 

adjective

Illustration of order

• 1 Corinthian
• 2 Doric
• 3 Ionic

Phrases

in order

: appropriate, desirable

an apology is in order

in order to

: for the purpose of

on order

: in the process of being ordered

on the order of

1

: after the fashion of : like

a genius on the order of Newton

—D. B. Botkin

2

: about, approximately

spent on the order of two million dollars

to order

: according to the specifications of an order

shoes made to order

Synonyms

Verb

• arrange
• array
• classify
• codify
• dispose
• draw up
• lay out
• marshal
• marshall
• organize
• range
• systematize

Noun

• arrangement
• array
• disposal
• disposition
• distribution
• ordering
• sequence
• setup

Choose the Right Synonym for order

order, arrange, marshal, organize, systematize, methodize mean to put persons or things into their proper places in relation to each other.

order suggests a straightening out so as to eliminate confusion.

ordered her business affairs

arrange implies a setting in sequence, relationship, or adjustment.

arranged the files numerically

marshal suggests gathering and arranging in preparation for a particular operation or effective use.

marshaling the facts for argument

organize implies arranging so that the whole aggregate works as a unit with each element having a proper function.

organized the volunteers into teams

systematize implies arranging according to a predetermined scheme.

systematized billing procedures

methodize suggests imposing an orderly procedure rather than a fixed scheme.

methodizes every aspect of daily living

synonyms see in addition command

Examples of order in a Sentence

Verb

They ordered everyone out of the house.

The soldiers were ordered back to the base.

“Stop! Drop your weapon!” ordered the officer.

The court threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial.

The judge ordered that the charges be dismissed.

He was accused of ordering the murder of his wife.

I ordered the books from the company's website.

The shirt you ordered should arrive in the mail in a couple of days.

To order, call the number at the bottom of your screen.

Order now and receive a free gift!

Noun

That's an order, not a request!

Failing to comply with an order will result in the loss of your job.

She received an order to appear in court.

They can't close down the school without an order from the governor's office.

The mayor gave an order to evacuate the city.

It's not his fault. He was only following orders.

I'm not taking orders from you! You're not my boss.

The city was evacuated by order of the mayor.

The store received an order for 200 roses this morning.

They had trouble filling large customer orders.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Justice Julian Goose ordered a clerk to enter the pleas in Liverpool Crown Court as Rudakubana stayed mum during a video appearance from the London prison where he is being held. —Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

She had also been ordered to stay out of airports, not leave the city of Philadelphia — except to meet her lawyer, attend court or other pre-trial services in New York — surrender travel documents, and receive mental health treatment. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024

Noun

Despite famously long lead times, tastemakers from Frank Sinatra to Jackie Kennedy, who wanted one for her yacht, quickly placed orders. —Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 19 Dec. 2024

Cruise may have been cut off even without the incident and the California DMV order. —Brad Templeton, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from ordre, noun

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French ordre, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin ordin-, ordo ecclesiastical order, from Latin, arrangement, group, class; akin to Latin ordiri to lay the warp, begin

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing order

• back order
• call (something) to order
• cease and desist order
• change order
• close order
• counter-order
• court order
• established order
• executive order
• extreme risk protection order
• gagging order
• gag order
• holy order
• in apple-pie order
• in ascending order
• in descending order
• in (good) working order
• in (good) working order/condition
• in/of the order of
• in order
• in order for (someone or something) to
• in order that
• in order to
• in reverse order
• in short order
• law and order
• made-to-order
• mail order
• mail-order catalog
• major order
• market order
• minor order
• money order
• one's house in order
• on order
• on the order of
• order about
• order arms
• order around
• order book
• order form
• order of battle
• order of business
• order of magnitude
• order of the day
• order paper
• out of order
• pecking order
• peck order
• point of order
• postal order
• pre-order
• preservation order
• purchase order
• restraining order
• set one's house in order
• set one's own house in order
• short-order
• side order
• standing order
• stop order
• tall order
• tall order to fill
• the order of the day
• third order
• to order
• word order

Kids Definition

order

1 of 2 verb

or·​der ˈȯrd-ər 

ordered; ordering ˈȯrd-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to put in order : arrange

ordered the books alphabetically

2

a

: to give an order to or for

ordered them to clean their rooms

order groceries

b

: to command to go or come to a certain place

order troops back to base

3

: to place an order

have you ordered yet?

orderer

ˈȯrd-ər-ər 

noun

order

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a group of people united in some way (as by living under the same religious rule or by loyalty to common interests and duties)

an order of monks

an order of knighthood

b

: the badge or emblem of such an order

c

: a military medal or award

2

plural : the Christian ministry

in orders

3

a

: a rank or class in society

the lower orders

b

: class entry 1 sense 3a, kind

emergencies of this order

c

: a category of biological classification ranking above the family and below the class

4

a

: the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another

the order of the seasons

in alphabetical order

b

: the established way or arrangement

the old order

c

: regular or harmonious arrangement or a condition having such an arrangement

kept my room in order

5

a

: the state of things when law or authority is obeyed

restored order after the riot

b

: a certain rule or direction : command

that's an order

6

a

: a style of building

b

: a type of architectural column with its related parts

7

: good working condition

out of order

8

a

: a direction to pay money, to buy or sell, or to supply goods or services

b

: goods or items bought or sold

an order of eggs and toast

Medical Definition

order

1 of 2 transitive verb

or·​der ˈȯrd-ər 

ordered; ordering ˈȯrd-(ə-)riŋ 

: to give a prescription for : prescribe

the doctor ordered bed rest

order

2 of 2 noun

: a category of taxonomic classification ranking above the family and below the class

Legal Definition

order

1 of 2 noun

or·​der

1

: a state of peace, freedom from unruly behavior, and respect for law and proper authority

maintain law and order

2

: an established mode or state of procedure

a call to order

3

a

: a mandate from a superior authority see also executive order

b

: a ruling or command made by a competent administrative authority

specifically : one resulting from administrative adjudication and subject to judicial review and enforcement

an administrative order may not be inconsistent with the Constitution

—Wells v. State, 654 So. 2d 145 (1995)

c

: an authoritative command issued by the court

violated a court order and was jailed for contempt

— cease-and-desist order \ ˌsēs-​ənd-​di-​ˈzist-​, -​ˈsist-​ \

: an order from a court or quasi-judicial tribunal to stop engaging in a particular activity or practice (as an unfair labor practice) compare injunction, mandamus, stay

— consent order

: an agreement of litigating parties that by consent takes the form of a court order

— final order

: an order of a court or quasi-judicial tribunal which leaves nothing further to be determined or accomplished in that forum except execution of the judgment and from which an appeal will lie

— gag order

: an order barring public disclosure or discussion (as by the involved parties or the press) of information relating to a case

— order to show cause

: an order requiring the prospective object of a legal action to show cause why that action should not take place

called also show cause order

— pretrial order

: a court order setting out the rulings, stipulations, and other actions taken at a pretrial conference

— protection order

: restraining order in this entry

— protective order

: an order issued for the protection of a particular party: as

a : an order that limits, denies, or defers discovery by a party in order to prevent undue embarrassment, expense, oppression, or disclosure of trade secrets

b : restraining order in this entry

— qualified domestic relations order

: an order, decree, or judgment that satisfies the criteria set out in section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code for the payment of all or part of individual pension, profit sharing, or retirement benefits usually to a divorcing spouse (as for alimony or child support)

Note: The alienation or assignment of funds under a qualified domestic relations order does not affect the tax status of the plan from which such funds are paid.

— restraining order \ ri-​ˈstrā-​niŋ-​ \

: temporary restraining order in this entry

: an order of a specified duration issued after a hearing attended by all parties that is intended to protect one individual from violence, abuse, harassment, or stalking by another especially by prohibiting or restricting access or proximity to the protected party

excluded from the home by a restraining order issued because of domestic violence

called also protection order, protective order

compare temporary restraining order in this entry

— show cause order

: order to show cause in this entry

— temporary restraining order

: an order of brief duration that is issued ex parte to protect the plaintiff's rights from immediate and irreparable injury by preserving a situation or preventing an act until a hearing for a preliminary injunction can be held

: a protective order issued ex parte for a brief period prior to a hearing on a restraining order attended by both parties and intended to provide immediate protection from violence or threatened violence

— turnover order \ ˈtər-​ˌnō-​vər-​ \

: an order commanding one party to turn over property to another

especially : an order commanding a judgment debtor to turn over assets to a judgment creditor

turnover order in aid of execution

—California Code of Civil Procedure

d

: a command issued by a military superior

4

a

: a direction regarding the party to whom a negotiable instrument shall be paid

pay to the order of John Doe

see also money order, negotiable instrument

b

: an instruction or authorization especially to buy or sell goods or securities or to perform work

a purchase order

a work order

— alternative order

: an order to a broker in which alternative methods of carrying out the order (as by buying or selling) are set forth

— open order

: an order to buy securities or commodity futures that remains effective until filled or canceled

: an order for merchandise expressed in very general terms so that the seller has considerable latitude in selecting the articles actually provided

— stop order

: an order to a broker to buy or sell a security when the price advances or declines to a designated level

c

: goods or items bought or sold

the order was received in good condition

order

2 of 2 adjective

: payable to a named person or to an individual that person names by an endorsement

order instrument

compare bearer