or·der·ly
ˈȯr-dər-lē 
1
2
: well behaved : peaceful
an orderly crowd
orderly
adverb
plural orderlies
1
: a soldier assigned to perform various services (such as carrying messages) for a superior officer
2
: a hospital attendant who does routine or heavy work (such as cleaning, carrying supplies, or moving patients)
Synonyms
Examples of orderly in a Sentence
Adjective
an orderly arrangement of pictures
She sorted the information into orderly categories.
Outside the theater, an orderly line of people waited to buy tickets.
an orderly crowd of protesters
Please exit the building in an orderly fashion.
Recent Examples on the Web
Vicki M. Young, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2024
Moran reiterated the importance of maintaining orderly conduct.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Lauren Huff, EW.com, 2 Oct. 2024
Diaz plays Tony, the most sadistic of the Institute’s orderlies, who delights in wielding his power over the children.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for orderly 
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.
Adjective
Conn’s filed its own Chapter 11 petition in July to conduct an orderly wind-down of operations, which include both the Conn’s and W.S. Badcock nameplates.
—Vicki M. Young, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2024
Moran reiterated the importance of maintaining orderly conduct.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Kelce is dressed in what appears to be an all-white uniform of sorts, not unlike something an orderly might wear.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 2 Oct. 2024
Diaz plays Tony, the most sadistic of the Institute’s orderlies, who delights in wielding his power over the children.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for orderly
Dictionary Entries Near orderly
Cite this Entry
“Orderly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orderly. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
orderly
1 of 2 adjective
or·der·ly
ˈȯrd-ər-lē
1
a
: arranged in some order or pattern
orderly rows of houses
b
: tidy entry 1 sense 1
kept my desk orderly
c
: regulated by law or system
an orderly universe
d
: methodical sense 2
an orderly thinker
2
: well behaved
an orderly crowd
orderliness
noun
orderly
adverb
orderly
2 of 2 noun
plural orderlies
1
: a soldier who carries messages and performs services for an officer
2
: a person who waits on others, cleans, and does general work in a hospital
Medical Definition
orderly
noun
or·der·ly
-lē
plural orderlies
: a hospital attendant who does routine or heavy work (as carrying supplies or moving patients)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share