order
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
How often you will meet it
Rank 391 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 50,430 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.024% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed the British ships dropped anchor and waited for orders from London
- a degree in a continuum of size or quantity also: order of magnitude it was on the order of a milean explosion of a low order of magnitude
- established customary state (especially of society) order ruled in the streetslaw and order
- logical or comprehensible arrangement of separate elements also: ordering, ordination we shall consider these questions in the inverse order of their presentation
- a condition of regular or proper arrangement also: orderliness he put his desk in orderthe machine is now in working order
- a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge) also: decree, edict, fiat, rescript a friend in New Mexico said that the order caused no trouble out there
order in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The whip-bearers were forced to use all their authority to keep this gaping crowd in order.
An Egyptian Princess — Volume 07 · Georg Ebers · Chapter 1
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The vows of our Order by no means hinder us from taking part in the affairs of our own country.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1
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Just think about it, then drop into the place where they keep 'em, on your way to supper, and order one!
Gloria and Treeless Street · Annie Hamilton Donnell · Chapter 1
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To prevent which, I fell to making boxes and bags, in order to separate it, having by me near 150lb. weight.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1
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The teacher may, however, follow his own judgment as to the order in which the poems should be taken up in class.
Narrative and Lyric Poems (first series) · O. J. [Annotator] Stevenson · Chapter 1