# order

/ˈɔɹdɝ/ (US) · /ˈɔːdɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/order
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sequence or arrangement

noun · CEFR A1

the way that things are arranged in a list or line, such as by date or name.

For teachers: the specific arrangement or disposition of items in a sequence.

- Please put these files in alphabetical order so they are easy to find.
- The librarian insisted that the archives be maintained in chronological order to preserve the historical context of the correspondence.

### 2. neatness and organization

noun · CEFR A2

a state where everything is tidy, organized, and working correctly.

For teachers: the state of being well-arranged or conforming to a particular system of organization.

- It took all morning to bring some order to the messy garage.
- The new manager implemented strict protocols to restore order to the chaotic production line.

### 3. a request for goods

noun · CEFR A1

a request for food in a restaurant or for a product from a shop.

For teachers: a commercial commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods or services.

- The waiter took our order and returned with our drinks five minutes later.
- The manufacturing plant received a bulk order for three thousand units, necessitating an immediate increase in raw material procurement.

### 4. a command

noun · CEFR A2

an instruction given by someone with power that you must obey.

For teachers: an authoritative direction or instruction that requires obedience.

- The soldiers followed the captain's order to move forward.
- The judge issued a court order demanding that the company release the internal documents to the investigators.

### 5. biological classification

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a group used to classify living things, smaller than a class but larger than a family.

For teachers: a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of organisms.

- The teacher explained that primates belong to a specific order of mammals.
- In biological taxonomy, the order Carnivora includes a diverse range of placental mammals that primarily consume meat.

### 6. religious or social group

noun · CEFR B2

a group of people who live by special rules, like monks or nuns.

For teachers: a community of people living under a particular religious rule or sharing common social goals.

- He decided to join a religious order and live in a monastery.
- The medieval order of knights was established to protect pilgrims traveling through dangerous territories.

### 7. to request goods

verb · CEFR A1

to ask for food or products to be brought to you.

For teachers: to place a commercial request for the supply of goods or services.

- I think I will order the steak and a side salad.
- The procurement department decided to order the specialized components from a local supplier to reduce shipping delays.

### 8. to command

verb · CEFR A2

to tell someone they must do something.

For teachers: to give an authoritative instruction to someone.

- The doctor ordered him to stay in bed for three days.
- The governor ordered an immediate evacuation of the coastal areas as the storm intensified.

### 9. to organize

verb · CEFR B1

to put things into a neat or logical arrangement.

For teachers: to arrange or organize items according to a specific system or sequence.

- She spent the afternoon ordering her books by genre.
- The software is designed to automatically order the search results based on their relevance to the user's query.

## Examples

- The waiter takes our order for two coffees.
- After placing an online order for a new laptop, I received a confirmation email with the tracking number.
- The librarian insisted that the historical archives be kept in chronological order to assist researchers in tracing the development of local laws over the last century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.