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TAKE THE QUIZmarching orders
plural noun
: authoritative orders or instructions especially to set out on or as if on a march
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Beyond jealousy or envy, that show rose me from the dead and gave me my marching orders to raise the bar on Devo in a do-or-die effort.
—
Liza Lentini, SPIN, 16 Dec. 2022
The power play will have a new look and new marching orders.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Oct. 2022
Remembering John Adams Just before the pre-game rain Wednesday evening, an Air Force color guard pulls on its white gloves, adjusts its silvery helmets and takes its marching orders.
—Debbi Snook, cleveland, 3 Feb. 2023
To some homeless services providers, the back-to-back emergency declarations are a welcome sign that the days of receiving competing marching orders from the city and county are over.
—Rebecca Ellisstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2023
But software follows whatever marching orders it’s been given.
—Tom Mustill, Time, 17 Nov. 2022
He’s gone up yonder and left us with marching orders.
—Joshua Bote, USA TODAY, 30 July 2020
My marching orders are to aggressively sue anyone with a media or social-media following who damages her with intentional lies.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2022
Emmer appeared days later on Fox News Sunday with the marching orders.
—Anchorage Daily News, 10 Nov. 2022
See More
Liza Lentini, SPIN, 16 Dec. 2022
The power play will have a new look and new marching orders.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Oct. 2022
Remembering John Adams Just before the pre-game rain Wednesday evening, an Air Force color guard pulls on its white gloves, adjusts its silvery helmets and takes its marching orders.
—Debbi Snook, cleveland, 3 Feb. 2023
To some homeless services providers, the back-to-back emergency declarations are a welcome sign that the days of receiving competing marching orders from the city and county are over.
—Rebecca Ellisstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2023
But software follows whatever marching orders it’s been given.
—Tom Mustill, Time, 17 Nov. 2022
He’s gone up yonder and left us with marching orders.
—Joshua Bote, USA TODAY, 30 July 2020
My marching orders are to aggressively sue anyone with a media or social-media following who damages her with intentional lies.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2022
Emmer appeared days later on Fox News Sunday with the marching orders.
—Anchorage Daily News, 10 Nov. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'marching orders.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
First Known Use
1714, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near marching orders
Cite this Entry
“Marching orders.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marching%20orders. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.
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