order 1 of 2

Definition of ordernext
1
as in sequence
the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another you always keep your books in perfect alphabetical order we haven't found out the order of the speeches yet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in type
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common collects movie posters, photographs and autographs of the stars, and other memorabilia of that order

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in medal
a piece of metal given in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement a book with full-color illustrations of British orders and decorations

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
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7
as in class
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped the lower orders were once expected to be content living out their lives as servants to the upper classes

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8

order

2 of 2

verb

1
2
as in to request
to give a request or demand for the players ordered hamburgers for lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to ask
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the teacher ordered that everyone sit down immediately and be quiet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb order contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of order are arrange, marshal, methodize, organize, and systematize. While all these words mean "to put persons or things into their proper places in relation to each other," order suggests a straightening out so as to eliminate confusion.

ordered her business affairs

Where would arrange be a reasonable alternative to order?

The words arrange and order are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, arrange implies a setting in sequence, relationship, or adjustment.

arranged the files numerically

When can marshal be used instead of order?

The meanings of marshal and order largely overlap; however, marshal suggests gathering and arranging in preparation for a particular operation or effective use.

marshaling the facts for argument

When would methodize be a good substitute for order?

While in some cases nearly identical to order, methodize suggests imposing an orderly procedure rather than a fixed scheme.

methodizes every aspect of daily living

When might organize be a better fit than order?

In some situations, the words organize and order are roughly equivalent. However, organize implies arranging so that the whole aggregate works as a unit with each element having a proper function.

organized the volunteers into teams

In what contexts can systematize take the place of order?

The synonyms systematize and order are sometimes interchangeable, but systematize implies arranging according to a predetermined scheme.

systematized billing procedures

How does the verb order contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of order are arrange, marshal, methodize, organize, and systematize. While all these words mean "to put persons or things into their proper places in relation to each other," order suggests a straightening out so as to eliminate confusion.

ordered her business affairs

Where would arrange be a reasonable alternative to order?

The words arrange and order are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, arrange implies a setting in sequence, relationship, or adjustment.

arranged the files numerically

When can marshal be used instead of order?

The meanings of marshal and order largely overlap; however, marshal suggests gathering and arranging in preparation for a particular operation or effective use.

marshaling the facts for argument

When would methodize be a good substitute for order?

While in some cases nearly identical to order, methodize suggests imposing an orderly procedure rather than a fixed scheme.

methodizes every aspect of daily living

When might organize be a better fit than order?

In some situations, the words organize and order are roughly equivalent. However, organize implies arranging so that the whole aggregate works as a unit with each element having a proper function.

organized the volunteers into teams

In what contexts can systematize take the place of order?

The synonyms systematize and order are sometimes interchangeable, but systematize implies arranging according to a predetermined scheme.

systematized billing procedures

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of order
Noun
Everyone needs that, in order to make smart financial decisions. Madison Beveridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 Holmes qualified for the reduced term under a 2023 rule change allowing first-time offenders to do less time for some non-violent crimes, according to an order issued Thursday by the federal judge who sentenced her in 2022 for defrauding investors in her blood-testing startup. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Wallis Simpson, who orders many pieces for her trousseau from Schiaparelli, will be photographed in a lobster dress by Cecil Beaton for Vogue. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2026 Restaurants and other food vendors ordered to close and allowed to reopen by Orange County health inspectors from March 19 to March 26. Ian Wheeler, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for order
Recent Examples of Synonyms for order
Noun
  • Editor Danielius Kokanauskis cuts these sequences with Swiss-clock precision, mirroring the cruel precision of Soviet bureaucracy.
    Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
  • While Sturm sat Lohrei for the next power play after a similar situation in the loss to Toronto, and could have reasonably benched him after that horrendous sequence, Sturm did put him back on the ice.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The blaze early on Monday morning in Golders Green, a London neighborhood with a large Jewish population, consumed four ambulances belonging to the volunteer organization Hatzola Northwest.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
  • And that training was funded by a philanthropic organization that’s interested in promoting civil liberties.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Caldwell’s own progeny made up no small part of that explosion (his son and several of his grandchildren have competed in the Olympics), and at Vermont’s Putney School Caldwell coached America’s first cross-country superstar, Bill Koch, who won an Olympic medal in 1976.
    Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
  • After helping Sweden win the goal medal at the world junior championships in January, Frondell finished strong with Djurgardens, scoring in 10 of 18 regular-season games before his team was eliminated Saturday in a first-round playoff series.
    Matt Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • To address these challenges, researchers designed a hybrid composite actuator that combines shape memory alloys (SMAs) with shape memory polymers (SMPs).
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The approach sets Fetterman apart from Manchin and Sinema, who routinely used their swing vote status to extract concessions or shape legislation.
    Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • More than 7 million student loan borrowers who have been enrolled in a Biden-era repayment plan will receive notices beginning Friday with instructions to seek a new plan to repay their debt, the Education Department said.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The candy bars, which are likely to be circulated in unofficial sales channels across Europe, can be identified by a unique batch code assigned to individual bars and when scanned would relay instructions on how to contact KitKat, the company said.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Ciriaco finished second in the Olympic category and fourth in the traditional event in the 119-pound weight class at the 3A state championship.
    Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Syme About Town Dance Nearly fifty now, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has long been, for good or ill, a best-in-class purveyor of trends in contemporary dance.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The academy had been looking for a venue that offered greater control over how the show is staged, including how the audience is arranged and how the room is used for both the broadcast and the live event.
    Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Trump administration officials are working to arrange a meeting in Pakistan this weekend to discuss an off-ramp to the war in Iran, two senior administration officials told CNN.
    Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Barron, who turned 20 on March 20, also listed Mar-a-Lago as his address and requested a mail-in ballot on March 14, voter records show.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Call 305-415-3896 to request a safety walk.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Order.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/order. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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