order
[noun]
Synonyms:
- instruction, command, decree, dictate, direction, directive, injunction, law, mandate, regulation, rule
- sequence, arrangement, array, grouping, layout, line-up, progression, series, structure
- tidiness, method, neatness, orderliness, organization, pattern, regularity, symmetry, system
- discipline, calm, control, law, law and order, peace, quiet, tranquillity
- request, application, booking, commission, requisition, reservation
- class, caste, grade, position, rank, status
- kind, class, family, genre, ilk, sort, type
- society, association, brotherhood, community, company, fraternity, guild, organization
[verb]
Synonyms:
- instruct, bid, charge, command, decree, demand, direct, require
- request, apply for, book, reserve, send away for
- arrange, catalogue, classify, group, marshal, organize, sort out, systematize

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Antonyms: disorder
Contrasted words: disarrangement, disordering, chaos, confusion, disorder, mix-up, muddle, impropriety, indecorousness, indecorum, unseemliness, anarchy, snafu, disrepair, inappropriateness, unfitness, unsuitability, unsuitableness
Related Idioms: working order, put (or set) in order, put in shape, put (or set) to rights, reduce to order, whip into shape (or order)
Related Words: bracket, branch, pigeonhole, set, estate, grade, rank, status, array, arrayal, collocation, allocation, allotment, apportionment, arrayment, proration, approach, approximation, closeness, nearness, proximity, consecutiveness, following, successiveness, chain, progression, series, train, goodness, niceness, rightness, fitness, suitability, integrity, probity, rectitude, uprightness, fettle, kilter, trim, adjustment, amendment, correction, gear, rectification, opportuneness, seasonableness, timeliness, auspiciousness, favorableness, felicity, grace, authorization, permission, adjust, fix, regulate, right, align, line, line up, range, classify, codify, hierarchize, regiment, routine, routinize, streamline

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English Thesaurus: arrange, organize, order, classify, set out, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. or‧der¹ S1 W1 /ˈɔːdə $ ˈɔːrdər/ noun
[Word Family: noun: order ≠ disorder, ordering; adjective: ordered ≠ disordered, orderly ≠ disorderly; verb: order]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: ordre, from Latin ordo 'arrangement, group']

1. FOR A PURPOSE
a) in order to do something for the purpose of doing something:
Samuel trained every day in order to improve his performance.
In order to understand how the human body works, you need to have some knowledge of chemistry.
b) in order for/that formal so that something can happen or so that someone can do something:
Sunlight is needed in order for the process of photosynthesis to take place in plants.

2. ARRANGEMENT [uncountable and countable] the way that things or events are arranged in relation to each other, so that one thing is first, another thing is second etc Synonym : sequence
in the right/correct order
Make sure that you put the books back in the right order.
out of order/in the wrong order
The files are all out of order
in order (=one after another, according to a plan)
Then they call out our names in order and we answer yes or no.
in alphabetical order
Their names are arranged in alphabetical order.
in order of importance/difficulty etc
The cities are listed in order of importance.
Students learn the verbs in order of difficulty.
in ascending/descending order (=starting with the lowest or highest number)
The prices are given in ascending order.
in reverse order
She read out the names in reverse order.
There seemed to be no logical order to the sections.

3. INSTRUCTION [countable usually plural] an instruction to do something that is given by someone in authority
order to do something
The captain had to give the order to abandon ship.
under orders (from somebody) (to do something)
She is under orders to have a complete rest.
on sb’s orders
He was thrown into the river on the emperor’s orders.
by order of somebody
The company cannot be identified by order of the court.

4. CONTROLLED SITUATION [uncountable] a situation in which rules are obeyed and authority is respected:
the breakdown of law and order
The riots are a threat to public order.
keep order/keep somebody in order (=stop people from behaving badly)
The physics teacher couldn’t keep order in any class.
She had trouble keeping her teenage sons in order.
The army was called in to restore order.

5. WELL-ORGANIZED STATE [uncountable] a situation in which everything is controlled, well organized, and correctly arranged:
Let’s have some order in here.
You need to put your financial affairs in order.
She keeps her room in good order.

6. FOR FOOD OR DRINK [countable]
a) a request for food or drink in a restaurant or bar:
The waiter took our orders.
last orders British English (=the last time you can order a drink before a bar closes)
Last orders now please!
b) the food or drink you have asked for in a restaurant or bar:
When our order finally arrived we were very hungry indeed. ⇒ side order

7. FOR GOODS [countable]
a) a request by a customer for a company to supply goods:
Goods will be sent within 24 hours of receiving your order.
You can always cancel your order if you change your mind.
The government has placed an order for (=asked a company to supply) new weapons.
Please complete the enclosed order form.
on order (=asked for, but not yet received)
My bicycle is on order.
make/supply something to order (=produce something especially for a particular customer)
They make hand-made shoes to order.
b) goods that you have ordered from a company:
Your order has arrived – you can collect it from the store any time. ⇒ mail order

8. be out of order
a) if a machine or piece of equipment is out of order, it is not working:
The phone is out of order again.
b) British English informal if someone’s behaviour is out of order, it is unacceptable Synonym : out of line American English
c) to be breaking the rules in a committee, court, parliament etc:
The MP’s remarks were ruled out of order.

REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that a machine or piece of equipment is not working or is broken rather than out of order:
The phone’s not working.

9. be in order
a) if something is in order, it is correct or right:
Everything is in order.
b) to be a suitable thing to do or say on a particular occasion:
I hear congratulations are in order.
c) if an official document is in order, it is legal and correct:
Is your passport in order?
d) if something that you do is in order, it is allowed by the rules in a committee, court, parliament etc

10. be in (good) working/running order in good condition or working well:
She keeps her bicycle in good working order.

11. SOCIAL/ECONOMIC SITUATION [singular] the political, social, or economic situation at a particular time
social/political order
He called the rioters a threat to the social order.
The people of South Africa wanted a new order.
He dared to challenge the established (=traditional) order.

12. be the order of the day
a) to be suitable for a particular occasion or situation:
Casual clothes are the order of the day.
b) to be very common at a particular time – used especially when you disapprove of something:
Sexual explicitness is the order of the day.

13. the order of things the way that life and the world are organized and intended to be:
People accepted the class system as part of the natural order of things.

14. of a high order/of the highest order (also of the first order) of a very good kind or of the best kind:
an achievement of the highest order

15. withdraw/retreat in good order to move away from the enemy in war in an organized way

16. in the order of something/of the order of something (also on the order of something American English) a little more or a little less than a particular amount, especially a high amount Synonym : approximately:
a figure in the order of $7 million

17. RELIGIOUS GROUP [countable] a society of monks or nuns (=people who live a holy life according to religious rules):
the Benedictine Order
order of
the order of Jesuits

18. take (holy) orders to become a priest

19. SECRET SOCIETY [countable] an organization or a society whose members meet for secret ceremonies

20. OFFICIAL HONOUR [countable] a group of people who have received a special official reward from a king, president etc for their services or achievements:
the Order of the Garter

21. MONEY [countable] an official piece of paper that can be exchanged for money ⇒ money order, postal order

22. the lower orders British English old-fashioned people who belong to the lowest social class

23. ANIMALS/PLANTS [countable] technical a group of animals or plants that are considered together because they evolved from the same plant or animal ⇒ class¹(5), species

24. COMPUTER [countable] American English a list of jobs that a computer has to do in a particular order Synonym : queue British English

25. Order! Order! spoken used to ask people to stop talking in a meeting or parliament
⇒ pecking order, point of order, standing order, ⇒ call somebody/something to order at call¹(16), ⇒ set/put your own house in order at house¹(7), ⇒ be given/get your marching orders at march¹(5), ⇒ in short order at short¹(22), ⇒ under starter’s orders at starter, ⇒ tall order at tall

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. order² S2 W2 verb
[Word Family: noun: order ≠ disorder, ordering; adjective: ordered ≠ disordered, orderly ≠ disorderly; verb: order]

1. ASK FOR FOOD/DRINK [intransitive and transitive] to ask for food or a drink in a restaurant, bar etc:
Anne ordered another glass of wine.
Are you ready to order?
He sat down and ordered a meal.

2. ASK FOR GOODS [intransitive and transitive] to ask for goods or services to be supplied:
I’ve ordered a new computer from the supplier.
order somebody something
I’ll order you a taxi.

3. TELL SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING [transitive] to tell someone that they must do something, especially using your official power or authority:
The court ordered his release from prison.
‘Stay right there,’ she ordered.
order somebody to do something
Tom was ordered to pay £300 as compensation.
Her doctor had ordered her to rest for a week.
be ordered back to something
The soldiers were ordered back to their units.
order that
He ordered that the house be sold.

4. ARRANGE [transitive] to arrange something in an order:
The list is ordered alphabetically.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

order
noun
I. way in which people/things are arranged
ADJ. correct, right | wrong | logical The paragraphs are not in a logical order.
ascending arranged in ascending order of size
descending | alphabetical, chronological, numerical, random, reverse | pecking the pecking order among the hospital staff
word
PREP. in ~ The winners were announced in reverse order.
in ~ of I've listed the tasks in order of priority.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
II. organized state
ADJ. apple-pie (= perfect) The accounts were in apple-pie order.
VERB + ORDER bring, create, impose to bring order out of chaos She attempted to impose some order on the chaos of her files.
put/set sth in | leave sth in
PREP. in ~ My notes are in order.
PHRASES in good order The house is in good order.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
III. when laws, rules, authority, etc. are obeyed
ADJ. public
VERB + ORDER keep, maintain, preserve | restore | keep sb/sth in Some teachers find it difficult to keep their classes in order.
call sb/sth to The argument continued until the chairman called them both to order (= ordered them to obey the formal rules of the meeting).
PREP. in ~ (= allowed by the rules) Would it be in order for us to examine the manuscript?
out of ~ (= not allowed by the rules) His objection was ruled out of order.
PHRASES law and order, a point of order One of the committee members raised a point of order.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
IV. way a society is arranged
ADJ. established, existing, old He was seen as a threat to the established order.
new | natural the natural order of things
economic, political, social | world a new world order

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
V. instruction/demand
ADJ. direct, specific | executive | sealed He opened his sealed orders.
court | maintenance, preservation, restraining a wildlife preservation order
VERB + ORDER give, issue, make (law) The captain gave the order to fire. The judge made an order for the costs to be paid.
receive | carry out, execute, follow, obey, take The local civilians don't take orders from the military.
disobey, ignore, violate | cancel, countermand, rescind, revoke | bark/bawl/shout (out) He barked out orders as he left.
PREP. by ~ The council's functions were established by order.
by ~ of by order of the police
on sb's ~s The ship was to set sail at once, on the admiral's orders.
under ~s (from) A group of soldiers, under orders from the president, took control of the television station.
~s for The colonel had given orders for the spy's execution.
PHRASES doctor's orders I'm not to drink any alcohol?doctor's orders!
get your marching orders (= be ordered to leave), give sb their marching orders

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
VI. request for sth to be made/supplied/delivered
ADJ. bulk, large, record | small | firm | advance | back, outstanding | repeat | tall (= difficult to fulfill; unreasonable) | mail, money, postal, standing | export
VERB + ORDER place, put in I've placed an order for the CD.
cancel | receive, win The company won a £10 million order for oil-drilling equipment.
have | fill, fulfil, meet trying to fill all the back orders
make sth to a cupboard made to order
ORDER + NOUN form
PREP. on ~ We have ten boxes on order.
~ for We have a firm order for ten cases of wine.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
VII. request for food, etc. in a restaurant, etc.
ADJ. side a side order of mixed salad
last ~s Last orders at the bar now please!
VERB + ORDER take The waiter came to take their orders.
give sb
PREP. ~ for an order for steak and fries

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
VIII. group of people living in a religious community
ADJ. monastic, religious | contemplative | closed (= with little or no contact with the outside world) | Benedictine, Cistercian, etc.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
verb
I. tell sb to do sth
ADV. expressly, specifically | immediately | personally The army's Chief of Staff had personally ordered the raid.
formally | about, around Stop ordering me around!
back, home, off, out There were seven bookings and two players were ordered off.
PREP. off, out of All journalists have been ordered out of the country.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
II. ask for sth
ADV. direct/directly
PREP. for We can order the book for you, if you like.
from You can order the book direct from the publisher.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
III. organize/arrange sth
ADV. alphabetically, chronologically, hierarchically, logically The entries are ordered alphabetically.
PREP. according to Different senses of a word are ordered according to frequency.
PHRASES highly/well ordered She led a highly ordered existence, with everything having its own time and place.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order

the right/correct order
Of course, the notes must be played in the right order.
the wrong order
The pages had been put in the wrong order.
the same order
He always closed the windows in the same order.
reverse order
They announced the results in reverse order, starting with the last.
alphabetical order
List the names in alphabetical order.
numerical order
The dogs are given numbers, and stand in numerical order while the judge looks at them.
chronological order (=the order that things happened in time)
The paintings are arranged in chronological order.
ascending/descending order (=with the lowest or highest number first)
The films are ranked in ascending order of profitability.
a logical order
Put the events of the story into a logical order.
put/arrange something in order
Decide what points you want to talk about, and put them in order.
in order of importance/priority/preference etc
The country’s main exports were, in order of importance, coffee, sugar, and soya beans.
give/issue an order
Do not fire until I give the order.
obey an order
He refused to obey this order.
follow orders/carry out orders (=obey them)
The men argued that they had only been following orders.
take orders from somebody (=be given orders by them and obey them)
I don’t take orders from you!
disobey/ignore an order
Anyone who disobeys these orders will be severely punished.
have orders to do something
The soldiers had orders to shoot anyone on the streets after 10 o'clock.
receive an order
The general says he received no order to withdraw.
make an order (=used of a court)
The court made an adoption order.
a direct order (=a clear order)
What happens to a soldier who disobeys a direct order?
strict orders
They had strict orders not to allow anyone through.
a court order (=when a judge in a court says you must do something)
Now they’re faced with a court order that could force them to leave.
an executive order (=an order from a president)
President Grant issued an executive order establishing a reservation for the Nex Perce Indians.
doctor’s orders (=when the doctor says you must do something)
She was to rest as much as possible on doctor’s orders.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

order
I.
verb
1.
BAD: I was so excited that I forgot to order them to check that the camera was working properly.
GOOD: I was so excited that I forgot to ask them to check that the camera was working properly.

Usage Note:
You cannot order someone to do something unless you have the power to do so. Compare: 'The teacher ordered the child to sit down.' 'She asked her teacher if he could check her homework.'

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2.
BAD: I've ordered two seats for tomorrow night's performance.
GOOD: I've booked two seats for tomorrow night's performance.

Usage Note:
See note at BOOK (book)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

order
II.
noun
DUBIOUS: Turning on the radio, I noticed immediately that it was out of order.
GOOD: Turning on the radio, I noticed immediately that it was not working properly.

Usage Note:
The phrase out of order is used mainly on notices stating that things such as public telephones, ticket machines, photocopiers etc are not working.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

arrange to put things in a particular order or position:
I like the way you’ve arranged the room.
a group of numbers arranged in any order
organize to arrange things in order according to a system, so that they are more effective or easier to use:
The book is organized into three sections.
How is the equipment organized?
order to arrange a group of things so that one comes after the other in a particular order:
The books are ordered according to title.
classify to arrange things in groups, and give each group a title:
The towns were classified according to population size.
set out to arrange a group of things on the floor, on a table, on a shelf etc, ready to be used:
If we set out the chairs now, they’ll be ready for tonight’s meeting.
be laid out to be arranged according to a particular plan – used especially about cities, buildings, and pages:
Kyoto is laid out according to a grid system.
fix/fix up especially British English spoken to arrange something, especially for someone else:
John had fixed up for me to give a talk.
I’ve fixed an appointment for you at the doctor’s.
set a time/date (also fix a time/date British English) to arrange for something to happen at a particular time or on a particular day:
Have you set a date for the wedding yet?
We fixed a time for me to visit.
reserve/book to arrange to stay in a place, go to a theatre, travel on a plane etc:
I’ve booked the flight to Zurich.
He had reserved a table at the restaurant.
take care of/make the arrangements to arrange all the details of an event:
Uncle James is making all the funeral arrangements.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

ask for to tell someone you want them to give you something:
I’m going to ask for a pay rise.
order to ask for food or drink in a restaurant:
We ordered some more coffee.
Have you ordered yet?
demand to ask for something in a firm way, insisting that someone gives you what you ask for:
They’re demanding immediate payment.
If the goods are faulty, you can demand a refund.
request formal to ask for something:
The pilot requested permission to land.
I enclose the information you requested.
beg/plead to ask for something in an urgent way, because you want it very much and will be very unhappy if you do not get it:
He begged me for some money.
I’m not going to plead for forgiveness.
nag/pester to keep asking someone for something, in an annoying way:
She keeps nagging me for a new phone.
People were pestering him for his autograph.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

ask to speak or write to someone to get an answer:
Did you ask about the price?
They asked me a lot of questions.
inquire/enquire /ɪnˈkwaɪə $ -ˈkwaɪr/ formal to ask someone for information about something:
I’m writing to inquire about the job that was advertised in yesterday’s ‘Times’.
demand especially written to ask a question in a firm or angry way:
‘Why didn’t you call me?’, she demanded.
interview to ask someone questions, to find out if they are suitable for a job, or as part of a television or radio interview:
When they interviewed me for the job, they didn’t mention the salary.
David Letterman has interviewed all the stars.
poll to officially ask a lot of people in order to find out their opinion on something:
Over 1,000 people were polled for the report.
64% of the people we polled said that they approved of the way the government had handled the crisis.
question/interview to ask someone a lot of questions in order to get information about a crime:
He was arrested and questioned by the police.
Detectives are interviewing the father of the missing girl.
interrogate to ask someone a lot of detailed questions, often in an aggressive way:
The men were interrogated by the US authorities for over six hours.
cross-examine to ask someone questions in court about the statements they made:
A second lawyer began to cross-examine the witness.
somebody is helping the police with their inquiries formal used in news reports when saying that the police are asking someone questions about a crime – especially when they think this person is guilty, but have not yet charged them:
He is helping the police with their inquiries in connection with the murder of Diane Jones.
ask for to tell someone you want them to give you something:
I’m going to ask for a pay rise.
order to ask for food or drink in a restaurant:
We ordered some more coffee.
Have you ordered yet?
request formal to ask for something:
The pilot requested permission to land.
I enclose the information you requested.
beg/plead to ask for something in an urgent way, because you want it very much and will be very unhappy if you do not get it:
He begged me for some money.
I’m not going to plead for forgiveness.
nag/pester to keep asking someone for something, in an annoying way:
She keeps nagging me for a new phone.
People were pestering him for his autograph.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

order to tell someone that they must do something, using your official power or authority:
A policeman ordered him to stop.
He ordered his men to put down their weapons.
‘Don’t move,’ he ordered.
tell to say to someone that they must do something:
Stop telling me what to do!
The headmaster told me to wait outside his office.
give orders/instructions to tell someone exactly what they must do:
The police chief gave orders to shoot.
The doctor gave instructions that she should rest as much as possible.
command used about a high-ranking person such as a general, captain, or king ordering someone to do something:
The general commanded the troops to fall back.
They believe that the Lord has commanded them to do this.
instruct formal to tell someone to do something, especially when you tell them exactly how it should be done:
The architect was instructed to keep the plans simple.
She took three tablets every day, as instructed by her doctor.
direct to give someone an official or legal order to do something:
The judge directed the jury to find her not guilty.
subpoena /səˈpiːnə, səb-/ to officially order someone to appear in a court of law in order to answer questions:
Another three of the President’s advisors were subpoenaed.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

question something that you ask someone, either when speaking or when writing:
Would anyone like to ask any questions?
I’ve emailed the hotel with one or two questions.
query /ˈkwɪəri $ ˈkwɪri/ especially British English a question that you ask when you are not sure you have understood something or that the information you have is correct:
If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent.
Our staff are always available to answer customers’ queries.
inquiry (also enquiry especially British English) /ɪnˈkwaɪəri $ ɪnˈkwaɪri, ˈɪŋkwəri/ a question you ask in order to get information or find out the details about something:
We’ve advertised the house, and we’ve already received lots of enquiries.
The police have been making some inquiries in the area.
request a polite or formal question asking for something that you want or need:
The bank said ‘no’ to our request for more money.
You must make your request in writing.
ask for to tell someone you want them to give you something:
I’m going to ask for a pay rise.
order to ask for food or drink in a restaurant:
We ordered some more coffee.
Have you ordered yet?
demand to ask for something in a firm way, insisting that someone gives you what you ask for:
They’re demanding immediate payment.
If the goods are faulty, you can demand a refund.
beg/plead to ask for something in an urgent way, because you want it very much and will be very unhappy if you do not get it:
He begged me for some money.
I’m not going to plead for forgiveness.
nag/pester to keep asking someone for something, in an annoying way:
She keeps nagging me for a new phone.
People were pestering him for his autograph.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

order
ˈɔ:də
See: apple-pie-order , call to order , in order , in order to , in short order , just what the doctor ordered , made to order , out of order , put one's house in order or set one's house in order , short order cook , to order , walking papers or walking orders

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲