order
order — verb
1. to tell a shop, restaurant, or company what you want so they prepare it or send
to tell a shop, restaurant, or company what you want so they prepare it or send it to you.
We ordered noodles and tea as soon as we sat down.
order + food in a restaurant
Dad ordered a new printer from a shop in Taichung.
order + noun + from [shop]
I ordered two copies online for the school library.
The hotel ordered extra towels before the tour group arrived.
Nina ordered me a coffee while I looked at the menu.
order + someone + noun
- order a meal
- order drinks
- order online
- order from a shop
- order someone a coffee
- cancel
used when you stop an order after placing it
Grammar Patterns
order + noun
order + noun + from [shop/company]
order + someone + noun
Usage Note
The object is usually food, goods, tickets, or another service a business can provide. Distinguish from sense 2, where the speaker uses authority rather than asking as a customer.
Common Mistakes
2. to use official authority to tell someone that they must act, or that something
to use official authority to tell someone that they must act, or that something must be done.
The judge ordered the driver to pay for the damage.
order + someone + to-infinitive
An officer ordered the crowd to move behind the fence.
The mayor ordered all city schools to close early.
The sergeant ordered, 'Leave the heavy bags here, boys.'
direct speech command
After the leak, the manager ordered the kitchen cleaned immediately.
order + object + past participle
- order someone to leave
- order the school closed
- order a retreat
- order that the lights stay off
- order an inquiry
Grammar Patterns
order + someone + to-infinitive
order + that-clause
order + object + past participle
Usage Note
The subject is usually a judge, officer, manager, or another person in authority. This sense commonly takes a person + to-infinitive, and it is also common in formal reports about official decisions.
Common Mistakes
3. to put people, things, or information into a set sequence or give them places in
to put people, things, or information into a set sequence or give them places in a list.
The app orders songs by date, not by singer.
order + noun + by [feature]
Teachers ordered the teams from fastest to slowest.
order + noun + from highest to lowest
Please order these photos by year before the meeting.
We ordered the names alphabetically on the board.
order + noun + alphabetically
The website ordered the search results by price.
- order alphabetically
- order by date
- order by price
- order the results
- order from best to worst
Grammar Patterns
order + noun + by [feature]
order + noun + from highest to lowest
order + noun + alphabetically
Usage Note
This sense often shows the rule after 'by', or gives a scale such as 'from fastest to slowest'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about asking for goods or food.
Common Mistakes
order — noun
1. a customer's request asking a business to provide a meal, goods, or a service.
a customer's request asking a business to provide a meal, goods, or a service.
The cafe wrote our lunch order on a yellow paper pad.
restaurant order
Sofia placed a large book order for the village school.
place an order
We sent the paint order after measuring every classroom wall.
Please check the wedding cake order before the bakery starts work.
- place an order
- take an order
- online order
- food order
- order form
- request
broader and can be used outside buying situations
- booking
used more for reserving a seat, room, or service in advance
- purchase order
more formal and especially used in business paperwork
- cancellation
used when the order is stopped before it is completed
Grammar Patterns
place an order
order for [goods/food]
online order
Usage Note
Common with businesses that make, prepare, or deliver something for you. Distinguish from sense 2, which names the food or goods after they have been supplied.
Common Mistakes
2. the food, goods, or other thing that a customer asked a business to provide.
the food, goods, or other thing that a customer asked a business to provide.
The waiter brought Hana's order before the soup was ready.
order = meal served
The sofa order arrived in five large boxes yesterday.
order = goods delivered
Please carry Mrs Chen's flower order to the front desk.
Each lunch order came with fruit and a paper cup.
- bring an order
- deliver an order
- coffee order
- flower order
- lunch order
Grammar Patterns
bring someone's order
deliver an order
coffee order
Usage Note
Often used when the meal or goods are being brought, delivered, packed, or checked. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the act of asking for something rather than the thing supplied.
Common Mistakes
3. in the phrase 'on order', used for something that has been requested but has not
in the phrase 'on order', used for something that has been requested but has not arrived yet.
The new library shelves are on order from a shop in Tainan.
be on order
A replacement screen was still on order when Ken called.
still on order
Because the parts were on order, the lift stayed closed.
Our uniforms remain on order until the factory reopens.
- be on order
- still on order
- parts on order
- remain on order
- awaiting delivery
clear and formal, especially in business contexts
- back-ordered
more technical and usually means the supplier is delayed
- in stock
means the goods are already available
Grammar Patterns
be on order
still on order
remain on order
Usage Note
Used after 'be', 'stay', or 'remain', and usually about goods or parts expected from a supplier. Distinguish from sense 2, where the order has already arrived or is being served.
Common Mistakes
4. in the phrase 'to order', used for something made or done specially after a cust
in the phrase 'to order', used for something made or done specially after a customer asks for it.
The tailor cut each school jacket to order.
to order after noun
This bakery makes birthday cakes to order every weekend.
make something to order
Guests can have vegetarian lunches prepared to order here.
prepared to order
The studio prints name cards to order for small companies.
- made to order
- prepared to order
- cut to order
- print to order
- custom-made
common for goods designed for one buyer
- made-to-measure
used especially for clothes made to fit a person
- bespoke
more formal and especially common in British English
- ready-made
describes goods already made before any customer asks
Grammar Patterns
made to order
prepared to order
to order after noun
Usage Note
Most common after verbs such as 'make', 'cook', 'prepare', 'cut', and 'print'. It stresses that the item is produced for a particular customer, not taken ready-made from stock.
Common Mistakes
5. the pattern in which people, things, or events are set out, or the sequence they
the pattern in which people, things, or events are set out, or the sequence they follow.
The books are in alphabetical order on the back shelf.
in alphabetical order
Seat order changed after two players missed the bus.
The order of family photos tells the story clearly.
the order of [items]
Please keep the quiz questions in the same order.
- alphabetical order
- word order
- seat order
- the order of events
- in the same order
- arrangement
broader and can also describe physical placement, not just sequence
- sequence
focuses more strongly on one item following another
- layout
often used for the physical position of parts in a space
- disorder
means there is no clear arrangement or sequence
Grammar Patterns
in ... order
the order of [items/events]
keep something in the same order
Usage Note
Often followed by 'of' to name the items in the sequence, or used in fixed patterns such as 'in alphabetical order'. Distinguish from sense 10 in the other chunk, where 'order' means general tidiness rather than sequence.
Common Mistakes
6. a command from someone with authority telling a person what they must do.
a command from someone with authority telling a person what they must do.
The captain gave clear orders before the rescue boat left.
give orders
Nurses followed the doctor's orders during the night shift.
follow orders
The guard ignored orders and opened the side gate.
I took my orders from Ms Lin at the front desk.
take orders from [person]
- give orders
- follow orders
- ignore orders
- take orders from
- command
the closest match and often slightly stronger in tone
- instruction
can sound less forceful and more procedural
- directive
formal and common in official or business writing
Grammar Patterns
give orders
follow orders
take orders from [person]
Usage Note
Very often plural after verbs such as 'give', 'follow', 'ignore', and 'take'. Distinguish from sense 8 in the other chunk, which is a formal written order or payment instruction rather than the command itself.
Common Mistakes
7. In the phrase 'under orders', used when a person must act because a superior has
In the phrase 'under orders', used when a person must act because a superior has already told them what to do.
Nurse Patel was under orders to wake Mr Wu at six.
under orders to + verb
After the storm, ferry staff were under orders not to sail.
be under orders
By noon, every driver was under orders to check the bus brakes.
The pilot stayed on the island because she was under orders.
- be under orders
- under strict orders
- under orders to wait
- under orders not to leave
- free
used when a person can decide for themselves
Grammar Patterns
be under orders
under orders to + verb
Usage Note
Used after 'be', often with 'under orders to + verb'. Common with soldiers, police, transport staff, and other people expected to obey a superior immediately.
Common Mistakes
8. A formal direction, often written down, that says something must happen, must no
A formal direction, often written down, that says something must happen, must not happen, or that money should be sent through a bank.
The judge signed an order stopping work on the new tower.
court order
A written order from City Hall closed the market for repairs.
written order from an authority
Mrs Liu left a payment order at the bank on Tuesday.
payment order
Police entered the flat only after showing a court order.
- court order
- written order
- payment order
- sign an order
- issue an order
Grammar Patterns
court order
written order
payment order
Usage Note
Usually names a written or legal document from a court, bank, police force, or government office. Distinguish from sense 6, where a person simply gives spoken orders.
Common Mistakes
9. In the phrase 'in order to', used before a verb to show why someone does somethi
In the phrase 'in order to', used before a verb to show why someone does something.
Lina left home early in order to catch the first train.
in order to + verb
In order to save water, the school fixed every old tap.
purpose phrase before main clause
Marcus whispered in order not to wake the baby upstairs.
in order not to + verb
The museum opened late in order to finish the new lights.
- in order to help
- in order to save
- in order to avoid
- in order not to wake
- to
more common and less formal in everyday speech
- so as to
formal and close in meaning, but less common
- for the purpose of
much more formal and usually followed by a noun or -ing form
Grammar Patterns
in order to + verb
in order not to + verb
Usage Note
Almost always appears as 'in order to + verb'. It is more formal and more deliberate than using plain 'to' before the verb.
Common Mistakes
10. A condition in which things are neat and placed where they should be.
A condition in which things are neat and placed where they should be.
After dinner, the kitchen was back in order before the guests arrived.
be back in order
Mia keeps her desk in good order, even during exam week.
keep something in good order
By sunrise, every tool was in order on the workshop wall.
Please leave the art room in order after the children finish painting.
- in order
- in good order
- back in order
- keep the room in order
- tidiness
focuses on being neat and clean
- neatness
often used for careful appearance as well as arrangement
- orderliness
slightly more formal than 'tidiness'
Grammar Patterns
in order
in good order
keep something in order
Usage Note
Usually used with rooms, desks, papers, tools, and other physical things that can be left neat or messy. Distinguish from sense 12, which is about working properly rather than being tidy.
Common Mistakes
11. In phrases like 'put something in order', to arrange or deal with things until t
In phrases like 'put something in order', to arrange or deal with things until they become neat and organized.
Before guests arrived, Nora put the living room in order.
put something in order
The clerk spent Friday afternoon getting old files in order.
get something in order
Dad stopped to set the camping gear in order after the rain.
set something in order
We need an hour to put the school store records in order.
- put in order
- get in order
- set in order
- put the papers in order
- scatter
suggests leaving things spread around untidily
Grammar Patterns
put something in order
get something in order
set something in order
Usage Note
Occurs in fixed patterns with verbs such as 'put', 'get', and 'set'. This sense is the action of organizing; sense 10 is the tidy state after that action.
Common Mistakes
12. A condition where a machine, system, or set of papers works properly or is ready
A condition where a machine, system, or set of papers works properly or is ready and acceptable for use.
Please check that the fire alarm is in good order before Friday.
in good order for equipment
By Monday, the printer should be in working order again.
in working order
All the hire bikes were in order before the school trip.
Her visa papers were in order at the airport desk.
papers are in order
- in working order
- in good order
- equipment in order
- papers in order
- working condition
common for machines and equipment
- good condition
broader and can describe physical quality as well as function
- usable
simpler and less formal, but does not fit every document context
- out of order
the usual opposite for machines that are not working
- invalid
the closer opposite for papers or documents not accepted as legal
Grammar Patterns
in working order
in good order
papers are in order
Usage Note
Common in checks and inspections. Machines, tools, and documents are 'in order' when nothing important is wrong and they can be used or accepted.
Common Mistakes
13. a calm public state where people follow laws or rules and serious trouble is con
a calm public state where people follow laws or rules and serious trouble is controlled.
Police stayed outside the stadium to keep order after the match.
keep order
Teachers struggled to restore order when the fire alarm rang.
restore order
Order returned to the square after the last buses left.
Strict rules kept order in the hall during the prize ceremony.
- keep order
- restore order
- maintain order
- public order
- peace
stresses calm more than rule-following
- stability
broader and often used for political or economic calm
- discipline
focuses more on controlled behaviour by a group
Grammar Patterns
keep order
restore order
public order
Usage Note
Usually appears in public settings with verbs such as 'keep', 'restore', and 'maintain'. Distinguish from sense 10, which is about neat arrangement of things rather than social peace.
Common Mistakes
14. the cry 'Order!' that a chair or speaker gives to silence a noisy debate and get
the cry 'Order!' that a chair or speaker gives to silence a noisy debate and get the business moving again.
The chair called "Order!" when councillors talked over one another.
call "Order!"
After three loud jokes, the judge shouted "Order!" across the courtroom.
shout "Order!"
At the union meeting, Ms Evans cried "Order!" and raised her hand.
"Order!" rang out after two parents began shouting in the school hall.
- call "Order!"
- shout "Order!"
- cry "Order!"
- call for silence
an explanatory phrase rather than a set term
- warning
broader and can be used outside meetings
Grammar Patterns
Order!
call "Order!"
shout "Order!"
Usage Note
Used as the exact word 'Order!' in parliaments, councils, courts, and other formal debates. It is not the same as sense 13, which names the calm state itself.
Common Mistakes
15. the set of rules and relationships that shape how a society or political life is
the set of rules and relationships that shape how a society or political life is organized.
After the mine closed, many young workers questioned the social order.
social order
The speech praised an international order that protects small countries.
international order
After winning power, the party promised to reshape the political order.
political order
Farm workers marched for a fairer social order in the southern valley.
- social order
- political order
- international order
- economic order
Grammar Patterns
social order
political order
international order
Usage Note
Usually modified by adjectives such as 'social', 'political', 'economic', or 'international'. Distinguish from sense 16, which refers to the older way things were done in the past.
Common Mistakes
16. the older social or political way of living and governing before later changes h
the older social or political way of living and governing before later changes happened.
After the revolution, many landowners feared the old order was collapsing.
the old order
The museum guide explained village life under the old order.
On radio shows, some ministers still spoke of the old order returning.
return of the old order
Young voters rejected the old order and filled the square with banners.
- the old order
- defend the old order
- reject the old order
- return to the old order
- old system
plain explanation of the meaning
- establishment
can suggest the people in power as well as the system
- ancien regime
historical and much more formal
- new order
the system that replaces the old one
Grammar Patterns
the old order
return to the old order
Usage Note
Most often appears as 'the old order' in historical or political writing. Unlike sense 15, it points specifically to an earlier system that people compare with a newer one.
Common Mistakes
17. a community, especially of monks or nuns, whose members live together under shar
a community, especially of monks or nuns, whose members live together under shared religious rules.
Lila's aunt joined an order that cared for sick children.
join an order
The order lives behind the church and grows its own food.
religious community as subject
Several young women entered the order after finishing university.
enter the order
Members of the order wear simple brown clothes at prayer times.
- religious order
- join an order
- enter the order
- members of the order
- religious community
clear and neutral explanation
- brotherhood
often used for men in a shared religious group
- sisterhood
often used for women in a shared religious group
Grammar Patterns
join an order
enter an order
religious order
Usage Note
Often appears with verbs such as 'join', 'enter', and 'leave'. Usually refers to a religious community rather than the honour group in sense 18.
Common Mistakes
18. an honour group whose membership is given by a ruler or state to reward importan
an honour group whose membership is given by a ruler or state to reward important service.
After ten years in public hospitals, Dr Singh entered the order.
admit someone to an order
At the palace dinner, Maria wore the badge of a national order.
national order
Each spring, only three artists become members of the order.
made members of the order
The president created a new order for firefighters after the mountain rescue.
- admit someone to an order
- national order
- member of the order
- create an order
- decoration
usually names the medal or honour itself, not the membership group
- honour society
can refer to a membership group, but often in schools rather than by a state
Grammar Patterns
admit someone to an order
member of the order
national order
Usage Note
Common in official names and with verbs such as 'admit', 'create', and 'award membership in'. Distinguish from sense 17, where the members live together under religious rules.
Common Mistakes
19. a level, scale, or kind of thing, especially when it is compared with something
a level, scale, or kind of thing, especially when it is compared with something else.
The flood damage was of a different order from last winter's broken fence.
of a different order
Their new steel factory is of a higher order than our village workshop.
of a higher order
This billing error is of the same order as last May's mistake.
of the same order
The repair cost was of a lower order than the bridge rebuild.
- of a different order
- of the same order
- of a higher order
- of a lower order
Grammar Patterns
of a different order
of the same order
of a higher order
Usage Note
Usually appears after 'of' in comparisons, often with adjectives such as 'different', 'same', 'higher', and 'lower'. Distinguish from sense 20, which only gives a rough amount.
Common Mistakes
20. in the phrase 'of the order of', meaning around a stated number, size, or total.
in the phrase 'of the order of', meaning around a stated number, size, or total.
The repairs were of the order of two thousand dollars last spring.
of the order of + amount
At noon, the queue was of the order of forty people.
Our flight delay was of the order of twenty minutes.
be of the order of + time
The fishing town has a population of the order of ten thousand.
- of the order of ten
- of the order of $500
- of the order of three hundred
- exactly
shows a precise number rather than an estimate
Grammar Patterns
of the order of + number
be of the order of + amount
Usage Note
Mostly appears in formal writing with numbers, sizes, or totals. Unlike sense 19, it does not compare kinds; it only gives an approximate figure.
Common Mistakes
21. in biology, a named rank that includes one or more related families of plants or
in biology, a named rank that includes one or more related families of plants or animals.
Owls and eagles belong to different orders in bird classification.
belong to different orders
The teacher drew the order above the family on the chart.
the order above the family
This insect order includes many kinds of butterfly and moth.
insect order
Students learned that bats form an order separate from birds.
- belong to an order
- bird order
- insect order
- order and family
- taxonomic rank
the general scientific term for a named level
- classification level
clear explanation for learners
- biological group
broader and less exact than the technical term
Grammar Patterns
belong to an order
the order above the family
insect order
Usage Note
Used in scientific classification and often followed by a Latin or English group name. An order sits above a family and below a class.
Common Mistakes
22. in Greek and Roman building, a named style identified by its columns and the bea
in Greek and Roman building, a named style identified by its columns and the beam above them.
The museum entrance uses the Doric order with plain heavy columns.
the Doric order
Our guide compared the Ionic order with the simpler Doric.
the Ionic order
The architect chose a Roman order for the town hall porch.
A broken stone showed which order once stood around the temple.
- the Doric order
- the Ionic order
- the Corinthian order
- Roman order
- architectural style
broader and less technical
- classical style
good learner explanation, but not only about columns
- column style
informal explanation focusing on the visible feature
Grammar Patterns
the Doric order
the Ionic order
the Corinthian order
Usage Note
Often appears with names such as 'Doric', 'Ionic', and 'Corinthian'. It refers to a full classical design system, not just one column by itself.
Common Mistakes
To become or work as a priest in a church.
After years of study, Maria decided to take holy orders.
He has been in orders for over twenty years now.
be a tall order
idiomSomething that is very hard to achieve or complete.
Finishing this project in one day is a tall order.
Winning the championship will be a tall order for our team.
To ask people at a meeting to follow the rules and be quiet so the meeting can start.
The chairperson called the meeting to order at 10 a.m.
The judge brought the court to order after the loud argument.
To ask people in a meeting to be quiet so that the meeting can start or continue.
The president called the committee to order with a firm voice.
Please call the audience to order so we can begin.
To be told to leave a place or a job.
After the argument, Tom got his marching orders from the boss.
The soldier got his marching orders and left the base.
To tell someone to leave a place or a job.
The manager gave the lazy employee his marching orders.
She gave her noisy guests their marching orders at midnight.
in order
idiomCorrect and acceptable according to rules or law.
All your documents are in order for the visa application.
Is everything in order for the wedding tomorrow?
Allowed by the rules of a meeting or formal situation.
Is it in order to propose a new rule now?
Speaking without permission is not in order during the debate.
in order that
idiomWith the purpose that something can happen.
We left early in order that we could catch the train.
She saved money in order that she could buy a car.
With the aim of doing or achieving something.
He studied hard in order to pass the exam.
In order to lose weight, she started exercising daily.
Working correctly and without problems.
The old car is still in perfect working order.
Make sure the machine is in running order before you start.
in short order
idiomQuickly and without difficulty.
The fire was put out in short order by the firefighters.
She finished the report in short order and submitted it.
law and order
idiomA situation where people obey the law and behave peacefully.
The government sent troops to restore law and order.
Citizens want a society with strong law and order.
Of very good quality or a very high degree.
She is a singer of the highest order.
The problem requires skill of a high order to solve.
Approximately; about a particular amount or number.
The project will cost in the order of $10 million.
The temperature reached of the order of 40 degrees.
the order of the day
idiomCommon, popular, or suitable at a particular time.
Casual dress is the order of the day for the party.
Hard work was the order of the day during the project.
Order! Order!
idiomA call by the person in charge of a meeting to remind people to follow the rules.
The speaker shouted "Order! Order!" to quiet the crowd.
"Order! Order!" the chairperson said as the debate grew loud.
out of order
idiomNot working correctly or not following the rules.
The elevator is out of order, so we must use the stairs.
His rude comment was completely out of order at the meeting.
a/the pecking order
idiomThe ranking of importance or power among members of a group.
In the company, the CEO is at the top of the pecking order.
New employees are low in the pecking order.
To organize your own affairs or improve your behavior before criticizing others.
Before blaming others, you should put your own house in order.
The manager needs to set his house in order first.
Waiting for a signal to begin a race.
The horses are under starter's orders at the starting line.
The runners stood under starter's orders, ready to sprint.
Word family
- orderlyadjectiveB2
- orderlynounC1
- orderlinessnounC1
- disorderlyadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
For sense 1, order is the usual verb when you tell a restaurant, shop, or website what food or goods you want. Request is broader and often more formal: you can request help, information, or a meeting, but you usually order lunch or a printer. Book is used more for rooms, tickets, tables, or services arranged in advance. Reserve focuses on keeping something for you until later, often before you actually use it. Buy names the whole act of purchasing, especially paying for something, while order highlights the asking stage, often before delivery. You order noodles at a cafe, but book a hotel room, reserve a seat, and buy a gift.
Etymology
Order came into English from Old French ordre, from Latin ordo, a word for a row, rank, or arrangement. That older idea of things being set in line helped English develop several meanings, including arrangement, authority, and later a business request for food or goods.