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.

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
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

Illustration of order

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
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for order 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of order was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near order

Cite this Entry

“Order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/order. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

order

1 of 2 verb
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?

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
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on order

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!