order of business

noun phrase

: a matter which must be dealt with : task
the budget was the first order of business at the committee meeting

Examples of order of business in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Bears still need to knock out contracts for their top two draft picks — Williams and Odunze — and then the next order of business could be a pay raise for Moore. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2024 And her first order of business as a legal adult was to change her name. Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 31 May 2024 On April 24, the first order of business after welcoming remarks by Price, the Pledge of Allegiance, and an opening prayer by Westminster Police Chaplain Misty Budzinski was Kevin Chojnacki’s promotion to the rank of corporal. Kevin Dayhoff, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2024 The first order of business for Perry is getting into the studio and cutting a follow-up to Traces and his 2021 Christmas record The Season for his new label. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2024 The first order of business for the eight-member K-pop band was confirming that they are headed out on a world tour this year. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 May 2024 Viewing the northern lights in Idaho Like most nighttime celestial events, the first order of business is to get away from light pollution. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 10 May 2024 The first order of business for the offseason will be Thompson. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024 Napoli’s biggest order of business might still be to come, amid reports that Victor Osimhen has decided to leave the club at the end of the season. James Robson, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'order of business.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

order of business (predetermined sequence of matters to be dealt with by an assembly)

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of order of business was circa 1890

Dictionary Entries Near order of business

Cite this Entry

“Order of business.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/order%20of%20business. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.

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