Order vs. Command — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
Order is instruction given, often implying a sequence or arrangement. Command is directive issued, implying authority and compliance.
Difference Between Order and Command
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An order often refers to an instruction given, potentially involving a sequence or arrangement. It can be used in various contexts, from daily life to military operations. A command, on the other hand, implies a directive issued from a position of authority, often requiring immediate compliance.
In the realm of grammar, "order" can function as both a noun and a verb, indicating a request or arrangement. "Command" is also versatile as a noun and verb, but it carries a tone of authority and control. The usage of these words changes the implied power dynamics in a sentence.
When discussing the implication of hierarchy, an order may not always suggest a top-down structure. It can be a request or instruction among equals. A command, however, typically implies a hierarchy, with the issuer having some level of authority over the recipient.
In terms of tone and connotation, an order can be formal or informal and might not always carry a sense of urgency. A command, by contrast, is often associated with urgency and a non-negotiable nature, especially in military or authoritative contexts.
The reaction expected also differs. An order might invite a structured response or adherence to a process, while a command anticipates immediate and unequivocal compliance. This distinction is particularly notable in emergency or authoritative situations.
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Comparison Chart
Function in Sentence
Can be a noun or verb
Can be a noun or verb
Implication of Hierarchy
May or may not imply hierarchy
Typically implies authority
Tone
Can be formal or informal
Often authoritative, urgent
Context of Use
Varied, from casual to formal
Often formal, authoritative
Expected Response
Compliance, sometimes flexible
Immediate compliance, strict
Compare with Definitions
Order
A sequence or arrangement.
The files are in alphabetical order.
Command
Be in a strong enough position to have or secure
They command a majority in Parliament
He commanded considerable personal loyalty
Order
A directive from a figure of authority.
The sergeant gave the order to advance.
Command
Control or authority over others.
She has command over her team.
Order
A state of proper arrangement or functioning.
After the cleanup, everything was in order.
Command
Give an authoritative or peremptory order
‘Stop arguing!’ he commanded
My mother commands my presence
He commanded that work should cease
A gruff voice commanded us to enter
Order
The arrangement or disposition of people or things in relation to each other according to a particular sequence, pattern, or method
I filed the cards in alphabetical order
Command
Dominate (a strategic position) from a superior height
The fortress commands the shortest Channel crossing
Order
An authoritative command or instruction
He was not going to take orders from a mere administrator
The skipper gave the order to abandon ship
Command
An authoritative order
He obeyed her commands without question
Order
A particular social, political, or economic system
They were dedicated to overthrowing the established order
Command
The ability to use or control something
He had a brilliant command of English
Order
A society of monks, nuns, or friars living under the same religious, moral, and social regulations and discipline
The Franciscan Order
Command
An instruction or signal causing a computer to perform one of its basic functions.
Order
The quality or nature of something
Poetry of the highest order
Command
To direct with authority; give orders to.
Order
A principal taxonomic category that ranks below class and above family
The higher orders of insects
Command
To have control or authority over; rule
A general who commands an army.
Order
Any of the five classical styles of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite) based on the proportions of columns and the style of their decoration.
Command
To have at one's disposal
A person who commands seven languages.
Order
Equipment or uniform for a specified purpose or of a specified type
The platoon changed from drill order into PT kit
Command
To deserve and receive as due; exact
The troops' bravery commanded respect.
Order
The degree of complexity of an equation, expression, etc., as denoted by an ordinal number.
Command
To exercise dominating, authoritative influence over
"He commands any room he enters" (Stephen Schiff).
Order
Give an authoritative instruction to do something
The judge ordered a retrial
She ordered me to leave
‘Stop frowning,’ he ordered
He ordered that the ship be abandoned
Command
To dominate by physical position; overlook
A mountain commanding the valley below.
Order
Request (something) to be made, supplied, or served
My mate ordered the tickets last week
I asked the security guard to order me a taxi
Are you ready to order, sir?
Command
To give orders.
Order
Arrange (something) in a methodical way
Her normally well-ordered life
All entries are ordered by date
Command
To exercise authority or control as or as if one is a commander.
Order
A condition of logical or comprehensible arrangement among the separate elements of a group.
Command
The act of commanding.
Order
A condition of methodical or prescribed arrangement among component parts such that proper functioning or appearance is achieved
Checked to see that the shipping department was in order.
Command
An order given with authority.
Order
Condition or state in general
The escalator is in good working order.
Command
(Computers) A signal that initiates an operation defined by an instruction.
Order
The established system of social organization
"Every revolution exaggerates the evils of the old order" (C. Wright Mills).
Command
The authority to command
An admiral in command.
Order
A condition in which freedom from disorder or disruption is maintained through respect for established authority
Finally restored order in the rebellious provinces.
Command
Possession and exercise of the authority to command
Command of the seas.
Order
A sequence or arrangement of successive things
Changed the order of the files.
Command
Ability to control or use; mastery
Command of four languages.
Order
The prescribed form or customary procedure, as in a meeting or court of law
The bailiff called the court to order.
Command
Dominance by location; extent of view.
Order
An authoritative indication to be obeyed; a command or direction.
Command
The jurisdiction of a commander.
Order
A command given by a superior military officer requiring obedience, as in the execution of a task.
Command
A military unit, post, district, or region under the control of one officer.
Order
Orders Formal written instructions to report for military duty at a specified time and place.
Command
A unit of the US Air Force that is larger than an air force.
Order
A commission or instruction to buy, sell, or supply something.
Command
Of, relating to, or constituting a command
Command headquarters.
A command decision.
Order
That which is supplied, bought, or sold.
Command
Done or performed in response to a command
A command performance.
Order
A request made by a customer at a restaurant for a portion of food.
Command
An order to do something.
I was given a command to cease shooting.
Order
The food requested.
Command
The right or authority to order, control or dispose of; the right to be obeyed or to compel obedience.
To have command of an army
Order
(Law) A directive or command of a court.
Command
Power of control, direction or disposal; mastery.
He had command of the situation
England has long held command of the sea
A good command of language
Order
Any of several grades of the Christian ministry
The order of priesthood.
Command
A position of chief authority; a position involving the right or power to order or control.
General Smith was placed in command.
Order
Often orders The rank of an ordained Christian minister or priest.
Command
The act of commanding; exercise or authority of influence.
Order
Often orders The sacrament or rite of ordination.
Command
(military) A body or troops, or any naval or military force, under the control of a particular officer; by extension, any object or body in someone's charge.
Order
Any of the nine grades or choirs of angels.
Command
Dominating situation; range or control or oversight; extent of view or outlook.
Order
A group of persons living under a religious rule
Order of Saint Benedict.
Command
(computing) A directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task.
Order
An organization of people united by a common fraternal bond or social aim.
Command
(baseball) The degree of control a pitcher has over his pitches.
He's got good command tonight.
Order
A group of people upon whom a government or sovereign has formally conferred honor for unusual service or merit, entitling them to wear a special insignia
The Order of the Garter.
Command
A command performance.
Order
The insignia worn by such people.
Command
(ambitransitive) To order, give orders; to compel or direct with authority.
The soldier was commanded to cease firing.
The king commanded his servant to bring him dinner.
Order
Often orders A social class
The lower orders.
Command
(ambitransitive) To have or exercise supreme power, control or authority over, especially military; to have under direction or control.
To command an army or a ship
Order
A class defined by the common attributes of its members; a kind.
Command
(transitive) To require with authority; to demand, order, enjoin.
He commanded silence
Order
Degree of quality or importance; rank
Poetry of a high order.
Command
(transitive) to dominate through ability, resources, position etc.; to overlook.
Bridges commanded by a fortified house. (Motley.)
Order
Any of several styles of classical architecture characterized by the type of column and entablature employed. Of the five generally accepted classical orders, the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders are Greek and the Tuscan and Composite orders are Roman.
Command
(transitive) To exact, compel or secure by influence; to deserve, claim.
A good magistrate commands the respect and affections of the people.
Justice commands the respect and affections of the people.
The best goods command the best price.
This job commands a salary of £30,000.
Order
A style of building
A cathedral of the Gothic order.
Command
(transitive) To hold, to control the use of.
The fort commanded the bay.
Order
(Biology) A taxonomic category of organisms ranking above a family and below a class.
Command
To have a view, as from a superior position.
Order
The sum of the exponents to which the variables in a term are raised; degree.
Command
(obsolete) To direct to come; to bestow.
Order
An indicated number of successive differentiations to be performed.
Command
To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge.
We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends.
Go to your mistress:Say, I command her come to me.
Order
The number of elements in a finite group.
Command
To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead.
Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries.
Such aid as I can spare you shall command.
Order
The number of rows or columns in a determinant or matrix.
Command
To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook.
Bridges commanded by a fortified house.
Up to the eastern tower,Whose height commands as subject all the vale.
One side commands a view of the finest garden.
Order
To issue a command or instruction to
Ordered the sailors to stow their gear.
Command
To have power or influence of the nature of authority over; to obtain as if by ordering; to receive as a due; to challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people; the best goods command the best price.
'Tis not in mortals to command success.
Order
To direct to proceed as specified
Ordered the intruders off the property.
Command
To direct to come; to bestow.
I will command my blessing upon you.
Order
To give a command or instruction for
The judge ordered a recount of the ballots.
Command
To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to sway; to influence; to give an order or orders.
And reigned, commanding in his monarchy.
For the king had so commanded concerning [Haman].
Order
To request to be supplied with
Order eggs and bacon for breakfast.
Command
To have a view, as from a superior position.
Far and wide his eye commands.
Order
To put into a methodical, systematic arrangement
Ordered the books on the shelf.
Command
An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an injunction.
Awaiting what command their mighty chiefHad to impose.
Order
To predestine; ordain.
Command
The possession or exercise of authority.
Command and force may often create, but can never cure, an aversion.
Order
To give an order or orders; request that something be done or supplied.
Command
Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the forces under his command.
Order
(countable) Arrangement, disposition, or sequence.
Put the children in age order
It's arranged in order of frequency
Command
Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of position; scope of vision; survey.
The steepy standWhich overlooks the vale with wide command.
Order
(countable) A position in an arrangement, disposition, or sequence.
Command
Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has command of the bridge.
He assumed an absolute command over his readers.
Order
(uncountable) The state of being well arranged.
The house is in order; the machinery is out of order.
Command
A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post, or the whole territory under the authority or control of a particular officer.
Order
(countable) Conformity with law or decorum; freedom from disturbance; general tranquillity; public quiet.
To preserve order in a community or an assembly
Order in the court!
Command
An authoritative direction or instruction to do something
Order
(countable) A command.
Give an order
His inability to follow orders
Command
A military unit or region under the control of a single officer
Order
(countable) A request for some product or service; a commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods.
Make an order
Receive an online order for the new range of sunglasses
Command
The power or authority to command;
An admiral in command
Order
(countable) A group of religious adherents, especially monks or nuns, set apart within their religion by adherence to a particular rule or set of principles.
St. Ignatius Loyola founded the Jesuit order in 1537.
Command
Availability for use;
The materials at the command of the potters grew
Order
(countable) An association of knights.
The Order of the Garter, the Order of the Bath.
Command
A position of highest authority;
The corporation has just undergone a change in command
Order
Any group of people with common interests.
Command
Great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity;
A good command of French
Order
(countable) A decoration, awarded by a government, a dynastic house, or a religious body to an individual, usually for distinguished service to a nation or to humanity.
Command
(computer science) a line of code written as part of a computer program
Order
A category in the classification of organisms, ranking below class and above family; a taxon at that rank.
The magnolia and nutmeg families belong to the order Magnoliales.
Command
Be in command of;
The general commanded a huge army
Order
A number of things or persons arranged in a fixed or suitable place, or relative position; a rank; a row; a grade; especially, a rank or class in society; a distinct character, kind, or sort.
The higher or lower orders of society
Talent of a high order
Command
Make someone do something
Order
(Christianity) An ecclesiastical rank or position, usually for the sake of ministry, when plural holy orders.
There have been many major and minor orders in the history of Christianity: the order of virgins, of deacons, priests, lectors, acolytes, porters, catechists, widows, etc.
To take orders or holy orders means to be ordained a deacon or priest
Command
Demand as one's due;
This speaker commands a high fee
The author commands a fair hearing from his readers
Order
(architecture) The disposition of a column and its component parts, and of the entablature resting upon it, in classical architecture; hence (since the column and entablature are the characteristic features of classical architecture) a style or manner of architectural design.
Command
Look down on;
The villa dominates the town
Order
(cricket) The sequence in which a side’s batsmen bat; the batting order.
Command
Exercise authoritative control or power over;
Control the budget
Command the military forces
Order
(electronics) A power of polynomial function in an electronic circuit’s block, such as a filter, an amplifier, etc.
A 3-stage cascade of a 2nd-order bandpass Butterworth filter
Command
An authoritative order.
The general issued a command for retreat.
Order
(chemistry) The overall power of the rate law of a chemical reaction, expressed as a polynomial function of concentrations of reactants and products.
Command
Mastery or knowledge of a subject.
He has a good command of French.
Order
(set theory) The cardinality, or number of elements in a set, group, or other structure regardable as a set.
Command
A directive in computing.
Enter the command to start the program.
Order
For given group G and element g ∈ G, the smallest positive natural number n, if it exists, such that (using multiplicative notation), gn = e, where e is the identity element of G; if no such number exists, the element is said to be of infinite order (or sometimes zero order).
Order
(graph theory) The number of vertices in a graph.
Order
(order theory) A partially ordered set.
Order
(order theory) The relation on a partially ordered set that determines that it is, in fact, a partially ordered set.
Order
(algebra) The sum of the exponents on the variables in a monomial, or the highest such among all monomials in a polynomial.
A quadratic polynomial, is said to be of order (or degree) 2.
Order
(finance) A written direction to furnish someone with money or property; compare money order, postal order.
Order
(transitive) To set in some sort of order.
We need to order them alphabetically.
Order
(transitive) To arrange, set in proper order.
The books in the shelf need ordering.
Order
(transitive) To issue a command to.
To order troops to advance
He ordered me to leave.
I hate being ordered around by my co-workers.
Order
(transitive) To request some product or service; to secure by placing an order.
You can now order most products to be delivered to your home.
To order groceries
To order food from a restaurant
Order
To admit to holy orders; to ordain; to receive into the ranks of the ministry.
Order
Regular arrangement; any methodical or established succession or harmonious relation; method; system
The side chambers were . . . thirty in order.
Bright-harnessed angels sit in order serviceable.
Good order is the foundation of all good things.
Order
Right arrangement; a normal, correct, or fit condition; as, the house is in order; the machinery is out of order.
Order
The customary mode of procedure; established system, as in the conduct of debates or the transaction of business; usage; custom; fashion.
And, pregnant with his grander thought,Brought the old order into doubt.
Order
Conformity with law or decorum; freedom from disturbance; general tranquillity; public quiet; as, to preserve order in a community or an assembly.
Order
That which prescribes a method of procedure; a rule or regulation made by competent authority; as, the rules and orders of the senate.
The church hath authority to establish that for an order at one time which at another time it may abolish.
Order
A command; a mandate; a precept; a direction.
Upon this new fright, an order was made by both houses for disarming all the papists in England.
Order
Hence: A commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods; a direction, in writing, to pay money, to furnish supplies, to admit to a building, a place of entertainment, or the like; as, orders for blankets are large.
In those days were pit orders - beshrew the uncomfortable manager who abolished them.
Order
A number of things or persons arranged in a fixed or suitable place, or relative position; a rank; a row; a grade; especially, a rank or class in society; a group or division of men in the same social or other position; also, a distinct character, kind, or sort; as, the higher or lower orders of society; talent of a high order.
They are in equal order to their several ends.
Various orders various ensigns bear.
Which, to his order of mind, must have seemed little short of crime.
Order
A body of persons having some common honorary distinction or rule of obligation; esp., a body of religious persons or aggregate of convents living under a common rule; as, the Order of the Bath; the Franciscan order.
Find a barefoot brother out,One of our order, to associate me.
The venerable order of the Knights Templars.
Order
An ecclesiastical grade or rank, as of deacon, priest, or bishop; the office of the Christian ministry; - often used in the plural; as, to take orders, or to take holy orders, that is, to enter some grade of the ministry.
Order
The disposition of a column and its component parts, and of the entablature resting upon it, in classical architecture; hence (as the column and entablature are the characteristic features of classical architecture) a style or manner of architectural designing.
Order
An assemblage of genera having certain important characters in common; as, the Carnivora and Insectivora are orders of Mammalia.
Order
The placing of words and members in a sentence in such a manner as to contribute to force and beauty or clearness of expression.
Order
Rank; degree; thus, the order of a curve or surface is the same as the degree of its equation.
Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.
Order
To put in order; to reduce to a methodical arrangement; to arrange in a series, or with reference to an end. Hence, to regulate; to dispose; to direct; to rule.
To him that ordereth his conversation aright.
Warriors old with ordered spear and shield.
Order
To give an order to; to command; as, to order troops to advance.
Order
To give an order for; to secure by an order; as, to order a carriage; to order groceries.
Order
To admit to holy orders; to ordain; to receive into the ranks of the ministry.
These ordered folk be especially titled to God.
Persons presented to be ordered deacons.
Order
To give orders; to issue commands.
Order
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed;
The British ships dropped anchor and waited for orders from London
Order
A degree in a continuum of size or quantity;
It was on the order of a mile
An explosion of a low order of magnitude
Order
Established customary state (especially of society);
Order ruled in the streets
Law and order
Order
Logical or comprehensible arrangement of separate elements;
We shall consider these questions in the inverse order of their presentation
Order
A condition of regular or proper arrangement;
He put his desk in order
The machine is now in working order
Order
A legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge);
A friend in New Mexico said that the order caused no trouble out there
Order
A commercial document used to request someone to supply something in return for payment and providing specifications and quantities;
IBM received an order for a hundred computers
Order
A formal association of people with similar interests;
He joined a golf club
They formed a small lunch society
Men from the fraternal order will staff the soup kitchen today
Order
A body of rules followed by an assembly
Order
(usually plural) the status or rank or office of a Christian clergyman in an ecclesiastical hierarchy;
Theologians still disagree over whether `bishop' should or should not be a separate order
Order
A group of person living under a religious rule;
The order of Saint Benedict
Order
(biology) taxonomic group containing one or more families
Order
A request for food or refreshment (as served in a restaurant or bar etc.);
I gave the waiter my order
Order
(architecture) one of original three styles of Greek architecture distinguished by the type of column and entablature used or a style developed from the original three by the Romans
Order
Putting in order;
There were mistakes in the ordering of items on the list
Order
Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority;
I said to him to go home
She ordered him to do the shopping
The mother told the child to get dressed
Order
Make a request for something;
Order me some flowers
Order a work stoppage
Order
Issue commands or orders for
Order
Bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations;
We cannot regulate the way people dress
This town likes to regulate
Order
Bring order to or into;
Order these files
Order
Place in a certain order;
Order these files
Order
Appoint to a clerical posts;
He was ordained in the Church
Order
Arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events, etc.;
Arrange my schedule
Set up one's life
I put these memories with those of bygone times
Order
Assign a rank or rating to;
How would you rank these students?
The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide
Order
A request or instruction.
Please order the books by their publication date.
Order
A request for goods or services.
I placed an order for a new laptop.
Common Curiosities
Can "command" be informal?
Typically, "command" is used in formal or authoritative contexts.
Can "command" be a noun and a verb?
Yes, it can function as both.
Is "order" always authoritative?
Not necessarily, it can also imply a request or sequence.
Does "order" always involve hierarchy?
No, it can be used among equals or in non-hierarchical contexts.
Is "command" always related to military or authority?
It's commonly used in these contexts, but not exclusively.
Can "order" and "command" be used interchangeably?
In some contexts, they can be, but "command" usually carries a stronger sense of authority.
In computing, what is a command?
It's a directive given to a computer to perform a specific action.
Is "command" related to expertise?
It can be, as in having command over a subject or skill.
Does "command" imply control?
Yes, it often implies control or authority over others.
Does "order" imply urgency?
It can, but not as strongly as "command" does.
What does "in order" mean?
It means properly arranged or functioning.
Can "order" be used in casual conversation?
Yes, it can be used both casually and formally.
Does "order" have a broader usage than "command"?
Yes, "order" generally has a broader and more varied usage.
Can "order" mean a request for goods?
Yes, it can refer to a request for goods or services.
Can "order" imply a sequence?
Yes, it can refer to a specific arrangement or sequence.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
