English Reference
verb · adjective

ordered

v. · adj.
US /ˈɔɹdɝd/ UK /ˈɔːdəd/ or·dered

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    v.to have asked for food in a restaurant or bought something online.

    v.the past tense of 'order', referring to the act of requesting goods or services from a vendor.

    Simple

    We ordered a large pizza and two salads for the party last night.

    In context

    The procurement department ordered the specialized laboratory equipment several months in advance to ensure it arrived before the research project commenced.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    v.to have told someone they must do something because you have power over them.

    v.the past tense of 'order', denoting an authoritative command or instruction that must be followed.

    Simple

    The officer ordered the soldiers to stop and wait for further instructions.

    In context

    The judge ordered the witness to answer the question directly, reminding them of their legal obligation to provide a full testimony.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    v.to have put things in a specific list or pattern, like by date or name.

    v.the past tense of 'order', referring to the systematic arrangement of items according to a specific criterion.

    Simple

    She ordered the files by date so they were easier to find.

    In context

    The archivist ordered the historical documents chronologically, allowing researchers to trace the evolution of the city's urban planning over several decades.

    jumbleddisorganized
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.neat, well-organized, and not messy.

    adj.characterised by a state of neatness, discipline, or systematic arrangement.

    Simple

    He has a very ordered way of working and never loses his notes.

    In context

    The professor maintained an exceptionally ordered office, with every volume on the shelves categorized by both subject matter and publication date.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Math

    adj.describes a set of numbers or items that follow a strict rule or sequence.

    adj.describing a set or structure equipped with a specific relation that determines the sequence of its elements.

    Simple

    The computer program works best when the list of names is already ordered.

    In context

    In an ordered set, every pair of distinct elements can be compared to determine which one precedes the other according to a defined rule.

    randomunordered

Usage ordered to evacuate · ordered a battalion · ordered construction

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated