order

1 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 arrangement, array, disposal, disposition, distribution, ordering, sequence, setup Related Words continuity; precedence, priority; chain, procession, progression, succession; series; aligning (also alining), alignment (also alinement), lining up; design, layout, pattern, structure, system Near Antonyms confusion, disorder, disorganization, disruption, upset; disconnection, disjointedness

2 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest a religious order Synonyms board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild (also gild), institute, institution, league, association, organization, society, sodalityRelated Words collective, commune, community, cooperative; alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership; body, cadre, group; circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch (also klatsch), lot, set; crew, outfit, party, squad, team; branch, chapter, local; faithful, fold, membership; sisterhood, sorority; cabal, camarilla, camorra, confederacy, conspiracy; band, gang, ring; cartel, combine, syndicate

3 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 breed, class, description, feather, genre, ilk, kidney, kind, like, manner, nature, sort, species, strain, stripe, type, varietyRelated Words model; sample, specimen; bracket, bunch, category, division, family, grade, group, grouping, lot, persuasion, rank(s), set, suite

4 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 medallion, medalRelated Words decoration, honor; crown, insignia, laurel, ribbon, title; bronze, gold, silver; badge, button, chevron, clasp, cockade, color, ensign, rosette, star; distinction; award, prize, trophy; citation, commendation

5 a state of being or fitness finally got the car back in working order Synonyms estate, fettle, form, health, keeping, kilter, nick [British], condition, repair, shape, trimRelated Words practice (also practise); pass, phase, stage; footing, picture, posture, scene, status, situation; rank, standingNear Antonyms disorder, disrepair

6 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned the commander issued an order that the number of guards for the prisoner be doubled Synonyms behest, charge, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, do, edict, imperative, injunction, instruction, command, wordRelated Words demand, requirement; mandate; countermand, counterorder; law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule; ordinance, regulation, statuteNear Antonyms appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging; proposal, recommendation, suggestion

7 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 Synonyms caste, estate, folk, gentry, class, stratumRelated Words bracket, echelon, grade, layer, level, tier; place, position, rank, standing, status; food chain, grouping, hierarchy, stratification; clan, family, fraternity, people, race, tribe; subcaste

8 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic regards draftees as an entirely different order of soldier and less desirable than volunteers Synonyms bracket, category, classification, division, family, genus, grade, group, kind, league, class, rank(s), rubric, set, species, tier, typeRelated Words description, feather, ilk, kidney, like, manner, nature, sort; branch, section, speciality, specialty, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety; breed, race; generation; heading, label, title

1 to put into a particular arrangement I've ordered all of my CDs according to type of music he likes to order his life so that there are few surprises Synonyms arrange, array, classify, codify, dispose, draw up, lay out, marshal (also marshall), organize, range, systematize Related Words groom, make up, spruce (up), straighten (up), tidy (up); unscramble; align (also aline), cue, line, line up, queue; alphabetize, file, hierarchize, prioritize, sequence; emplace, place, set; display, map (out), set out Antonyms derange, disarrange, disarray, disorder, mess (up), muss (up), rumple, upset

2 to give a request or demand for the players ordered hamburgers for lunch Synonyms ask (for), put in (for), request, requisition Related Words commission, solicit; charter, hire, license (also licence) Phrases call for

3 to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the teacher ordered that everyone sit down immediately and be quiet Synonyms call, decree, dictate, direct, mandate, ordain, commandRelated Words ask, petition, request; demand, requireNear Antonyms cancel, countermand, rescind

4 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the police officer ordered the crowd to back away from the suspect Synonyms adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, direct, enjoin, instruct, command, tellRelated Words ask, petition, request; beg, beseech, entreat; advise, counsel, warn; appoint, assign, authorize, commission; oversee, superintend, supervise; conduct, control, lead, manage; coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, requireNear Antonyms comply (with), follow, keep, observeAntonyms mind, obey