order
English meaning: Order
Definition
Arrangement, disposition, or sequence.
Example
“Please put the files in alphabetical order.”
Another example: “The waiter took our order and brought the drinks first.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A noun with many senses: arrangement/sequence ('alphabetical order'), a command ('give an order'), a request for goods ('place an order'), tidiness ('in order'), and a social or biological group ('a religious order', 'an order of insects'). Very common at all registers; many idioms ('out of order', 'in order to').
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'ordo' meaning a row, rank, or series, via Old French 'ordre', entering English around 1200.
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
- disorder
- chaos
- disarray
Related Words
Common Collocations
- in order
- place an order
- out of order
- law and order
- give an order
- in alphabetical order
Word Forms
order (sing.); orders (pl.); order (v.); ordered; ordering
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B