What does "order" mean?
Arrangement, disposition, or sequence.
Order
/ˈɔː.də/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Arrangement, disposition, or sequence.
- Grammar: order is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: decree, purchase order, society, a halt.
- Useful contrasts: academic disorganization indicators, apparent randomness, armed rebellion.
- Usage evidence: In order to do that, you have to take risks.
How to use "order"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "order" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "order" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "order" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "order" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "decree" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Arrangement, disposition, or sequence. countable
"put the children in age order"
- 2 the act of putting things in a sequential arrangement wordnet
- 3 A position in an arrangement, disposition, or sequence. countable
"In these situations we find the Genesee slate, the Tully limestone and the upper part of the Hamilton group, each one in its order disappearing beneath the lake level as we proceed southward."
- 4 (architecture) one of original three styles of Greek architecture distinguished by the type of column and entablature used or a style developed from the original three by the Romans wordnet
- 5 The state of being well arranged. uncountable
"The house is in order; the machinery is out of order."
Show 36 more definitions
- 6 a degree in a continuum of size or quantity wordnet
- 7 Conformity with law or decorum; freedom from disturbance; general tranquillity; public quiet. countable
"to preserve order in a community or an assembly"
- 8 a commercial document used to request someone to supply something in return for payment and providing specifications and quantities wordnet
- 9 A command. countable
"give an order"
- 10 a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge) wordnet
- 11 A request for some product or service; a commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods. countable
"make an order"
- 12 a body of rules followed by an assembly wordnet
- 13 A group of religious adherents, especially monks or nuns, set apart within their religion by adherence to a particular rule or set of principles. countable
"St. Ignatius Loyola founded the Jesuit order in 1537."
- 14 (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed wordnet
- 15 An association of knights. countable
"the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Bath."
- 16 a request for something to be made, supplied, or served wordnet
- 17 Any group of people with common interests. countable, uncountable
- 18 (biology) taxonomic group containing one or more families wordnet
- 19 A decoration, awarded by a government, a dynastic house, or a religious body to an individual, usually for distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. countable
"The Order of Propitious Clouds is a civilian order that can be awarded to Taiwan citizens or foreign nationals. It is divided into a total of nine "classes" or grades, of which the Special Grand Cordon is the highest. Pelosi said she was particularly honored to receive the award from Tsai -- "a woman president in one of the freest societies in the world.""
- 20 a group of person living under a religious rule wordnet
- 21 A category in the classification of organisms, ranking below class and above family; a taxon at that rank. countable
"The magnolia and nutmeg families belong to the order Magnoliales."
- 22 a formal association of people with similar interests wordnet
- 23 A number of things or persons arranged in a fixed or suitable place, or relative position; a rank; a row; a grade; especially, a rank or class in society; a distinct character, kind, or sort. countable, uncountable
"the higher or lower orders of society"
- 24 logical or comprehensible arrangement of separate elements wordnet
- 25 An ecclesiastical rank or position, usually for the sake of ministry, (especially, when plural) holy orders. countable, uncountable
"There have been many major and minor orders in the history of Christianity: the order of virgins, of deacons, priests, lectors, acolytes, porters, catechists, widows, etc."
- 26 (usually plural) the status or rank or office of a Christian clergyman in an ecclesiastical hierarchy wordnet
- 27 The disposition of a column and its component parts, and of the entablature resting upon it, in classical architecture; hence (since the column and entablature are the characteristic features of classical architecture) a style or manner of architectural design. countable, uncountable
- 28 established customary state (especially of society) wordnet
- 29 The sequence in which a side’s batsmen bat; the batting order. countable, uncountable
- 30 a condition of regular or proper arrangement wordnet
- 31 Scale: size or scope. countable, uncountable
"on another order"
- 32 A power of polynomial function in an electronic circuit’s block, such as a filter, an amplifier, etc. countable, uncountable
"a 3-stage cascade of a 2nd-order bandpass Butterworth filter"
- 33 The overall power of the rate law of a chemical reaction, expressed as a polynomial function of concentrations of reactants and products. countable, uncountable
- 34 The number of elements contained within (the given object); formally, the cardinality (of the given object). countable, uncountable
"1911 [Cambridge University Press], William Burnside, Theory of Groups of Finite Order, 2nd Edition, Reprint, Dover (Dover Phoenix), 2004, page 222, In this case, the conjugate set contains n(n − 1)/x(x − 1) distinct sub-groups of order m, and H is therefore self-conjugate in a group K of order x(x − l)m."
- 35 The smallest positive natural number n such that (denoting the group operation multiplicatively) gⁿ is the identity element of G, if such an n exists; if no such n exists the element is said to be of infinite order (or sometimes zero order). countable, uncountable
"The object of this note is to observe that it is possible to calculate the order of an element A of G#61;#92;mathit#123;GL#125;(d,q) on average using O(d³#92;mathsf#123;log#125;#92;q) field operations, assuming that qⁱ-1 has been factorised for i#92;led."
- 36 The number of vertices in the graph (i.e. the set-theoretic order of the set of vertices of the graph). countable, uncountable
- 37 A partially ordered set. countable, uncountable
- 38 The relation with which a partially ordered set is equipped. countable, uncountable
- 39 The sum of the exponents of the variables involved in the expression. countable, uncountable
"The monomial x²ʸ³ᶻ is of order 2#43;3#43;1#61;6."
- 40 The order of the leading monomial; (equivalently) the largest power of the variable involved in the given expression. countable, uncountable
"The quadratic polynomial ax²#43;bx#43;c, is said to be of order (or degree) 2 when a is nonzero."
- 41 A written direction to furnish someone with money or property; compare money order, postal order. countable, uncountable
"I then walked to Cochrane's & got an order on Sir Charles Asgill for my money."
Verb
- 1 To set in some sort of order. transitive
"We need to order them alphabetically."
- 2 place in a certain order wordnet
- 3 To arrange, set in proper order. transitive
"The books in the shelf need ordering."
- 4 bring order to or into wordnet
- 5 To issue a command to; to charge. transitive
"to order troops to advance"
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 assign a rank or rating to wordnet
- 7 To request some product or service; to secure by placing an order. transitive
"You can now order most products to be delivered to your home."
- 8 arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events wordnet
- 9 To admit to holy orders; to ordain; to receive into the ranks of the ministry.
"persons presented to be ordered deacons"
- 10 make a request for something wordnet
- 11 give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority wordnet
- 12 issue commands or orders for wordnet
- 13 appoint to a clerical posts wordnet
- 14 bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 The Order of the Arrow.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
academic disorganization indicatorsapparent randomnessarmed rebellionarmed upheaval
Example
"In order to do that, you have to take risks."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "order"?
Common synonyms include: decree, purchase order, society, a halt, act on, action.
How do you use "order" in a sentence?
In order to do that, you have to take risks.
How do you pronounce "order"?
Pronounced /ˈɔː.də/.
Etymology
From Middle English ordre, from Old French ordre, ordne, ordene (“order, rank”), from Latin ōrdinem, accusative of ōrdō (“row, rank, regular arrangement”, literally “row of threads in a loom”), from Proto-Italic *ordō (“to arrange”), probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂or-d-, from *h₂er-. Related to Latin ōrdior (“begin”, literally “begin to weave”). In sense “request for purchase”, compare bespoke. Doublet of ordo.