orient
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to find your position or work out which way you are facing.
v.to determine one's location or direction relative to the surroundings or a compass.
Simple“It took a few minutes for the hikers to orient themselves using the map.”
In context“After emerging from the underground station, she paused for a moment to orient herself before heading toward the cathedral.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to become familiar with a new situation, job, or place.
v.to familiarise oneself or others with a new environment, set of circumstances, or cultural context.
Simple“The first week of university is designed to help new students orient themselves.”
In context“The induction programme is specifically structured to orient new executives to the company's complex internal hierarchy and reporting protocols.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to design or aim something toward a specific group of people or a goal.
v.to direct or adjust something so that it appeals to or serves a particular interest or demographic.
Simple“The new training course is oriented toward people who already have some coding experience.”
In context“The firm's recent marketing strategy is heavily oriented toward younger consumers who value sustainability over brand heritage.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
v.to place or build something so that it faces a certain direction, like the east.
v.to align or position an object, especially a building, in a specific direction relative to the points of a compass.
Simple“The ancient temples were oriented toward the rising sun.”
In context“The architect decided to orient the building southward to maximise natural light and improve the efficiency of the solar panels.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
n.a name for the countries of East Asia.
n.a term referring to the countries of the East, particularly East Asia; often capitalised as 'the Orient'.
Simple“In old stories, the Orient was often described as a place of great mystery.”
In context“The explorer spent decades travelling through the Orient, documenting customs that were then unknown to Western scholars.”
UsageUsually preceded by 'the' and capitalised.
Teacher's tipThis term is often considered dated or Eurocentric in modern speech; 'East Asia' is preferred in neutral contexts.
Synonymseast asiathe eastAntonymsthe occident - 06 C2 Proficiency
adj.related to the east or the rising sun.
adj.situated in or belonging to the east; lustrous, like a high-quality pearl.
Simple“The poet wrote about the orient sun rising over the hills.”
In context“The crown was adorned with orient pearls of such brilliance that they seemed to glow in the candlelight.”
“If people differ in how they naturally orient themselves toward their inner and outer worlds, should they also use AI differently?”
“Coming to this book with, I think, the median British knowledge of Peru (Machu Picchu, the Shining Path, ceviche, Paddington Bear), it took me a moment to orient myself.”
See orient.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.