marching orders

plural noun

: authoritative orders or instructions especially to set out on or as if on a march

Examples of marching orders in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The marching orders for the Broncos defense this week after back-to-back last-second losses are abundantly clear. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025 At Gramps Getaway on Key Biscayne, management added nine fans this year and the staff is under marching orders to keep water glasses full at the popular outdoor bar, even as moonlight takes over. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 But the grand jury vetoes appear to be a rebuke of those marching orders. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025 New research suggests some people are defying their bosses’ marching orders even as the job market cools and job anxieties mount. Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for marching orders

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of marching orders was in 1714

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Cite this Entry

“Marching orders.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marching%20orders. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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