order

/ˈɔrdɚ/

Reviewed on

Also a verb

Meaning

  1. A request for food or goods, or the things requested.

    • The waiter came to take our order.

  2. An instruction that must be obeyed.

    • The manager gave orders to close early.

  3. The way things are arranged, one after another.

    • The names are in alphabetical order.

  4. A state in which things are neat, working, or under control.

    • The teacher kept order in the classroom.

How it's used

When this means “ask a store to send you something”

  • place an order (for + noun)

I placed an order for new shoes online.

When this means “says how things are arranged”

  • in + adjective + order

Put the photos in the right order.

When this means “not working, usually said of a machine”

  • out of order

The elevator is out of order.

When this means “gives the purpose of an action”

  • in order (not) to + verb

We spoke quietly in order not to wake the baby.

Collocations

  • take an order
  • online order
  • on order
  • follow orders
  • doctor's orders
  • under orders
  • alphabetical order
  • in order of importance
  • reverse order
  • in working order
  • everything is in order
  • keep order

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • chaos
  • disorder
  • mess

Idioms

  • made to order

    made specially for one customer

    The cakes are made to order.

  • put your house in order

    to organize your own life or affairs before telling others what to do

    Put your own house in order before criticizing us.