order
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.the way that things are arranged in a list or line, such as by date or name.
n.the specific arrangement or disposition of items in a sequence.
Simple“Please put these files in alphabetical order so they are easy to find.”
In context“The librarian insisted that the archives be maintained in chronological order to preserve the historical context of the correspondence.”
Synonyms - 02 A2 Elementary
n.a state where everything is tidy, organized, and working correctly.
n.the state of being well-arranged or conforming to a particular system of organization.
Simple“It took all morning to bring some order to the messy garage.”
In context“The new manager implemented strict protocols to restore order to the chaotic production line.”
- 03 A1 Beginner
n.a request for food in a restaurant or for a product from a shop.
n.a commercial commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods or services.
Simple“The waiter took our order and returned with our drinks five minutes later.”
In context“The manufacturing plant received a bulk order for three thousand units, necessitating an immediate increase in raw material procurement.”
Antonyms - 04 A2 Elementary
n.an instruction given by someone with power that you must obey.
n.an authoritative direction or instruction that requires obedience.
Simple“The soldiers followed the captain's order to move forward.”
In context“The judge issued a court order demanding that the company release the internal documents to the investigators.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
n.a group used to classify living things, smaller than a class but larger than a family.
n.a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of organisms.
Simple“The teacher explained that primates belong to a specific order of mammals.”
In context“In biological taxonomy, the order Carnivora includes a diverse range of placental mammals that primarily consume meat.”
Synonymstaxoncategory - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a group of people who live by special rules, like monks or nuns.
n.a community of people living under a particular religious rule or sharing common social goals.
Simple“He decided to join a religious order and live in a monastery.”
In context“The medieval order of knights was established to protect pilgrims traveling through dangerous territories.”
Synonyms - 07 A1 Beginner
v.to ask for food or products to be brought to you.
v.to place a commercial request for the supply of goods or services.
Simple“I think I will order the steak and a side salad.”
In context“The procurement department decided to order the specialized components from a local supplier to reduce shipping delays.”
- 08 A2 Elementary
- 09 B1 Intermediate
v.to put things into a neat or logical arrangement.
v.to arrange or organize items according to a specific system or sequence.
Simple“She spent the afternoon ordering her books by genre.”
In context“The software is designed to automatically order the search results based on their relevance to the user's query.”
order vs ask for — Order is for commercial transactions where you pay for a specific item; ask for is a general request for anything.
Usage order ending · following order · order your copy
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.