Order vs. Ask — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 13, 2024
Order often implies a command or directive, whereas ask suggests a request or inquiry.
Difference Between Order and Ask
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Order typically conveys a sense of authority or command, used when someone has the power to dictate what others should do. Whereas ask is more about seeking permission, information, or a response, emphasizing politeness or inquiry.
Order is often binding, carrying an implication that there is an expectation to be followed or executed. On the other hand, ask does not imply any obligation; it leaves the decision to comply or respond up to the recipient.
In a legal or organizational context, an order is a formal directive that must be followed, reflecting a structured hierarchy. Whereas ask in such contexts usually indicates a need for information or clarification, without the authoritative undertone.
Order can create an immediate effect or action, highlighting urgency or importance. In contrast, ask might lead to discussions or negotiations, providing a softer approach to interaction.
Order is straightforward and leaves little room for ambiguity in terms of the response expected. Meanwhile, ask allows for more flexibility and openness in the response, accommodating different possibilities.
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Comparison Chart
Implication
Command, directive
Request, inquiry
Authority
High, often from a superior
Generally low, more egalitarian
Response
Expected to be followed
Voluntary, up to the receiver
Tone
Authoritative, sometimes urgent
Polite, often tentative
Communication
Direct, clear
Open-ended, allows dialogue
Compare with Definitions
Order
The arrangement or disposition of people or things in relation to each other.
The files were in perfect order.
Ask
To inquire about someone's welfare or situation.
He often asks about your health.
Order
A decree by a court or other authority.
The court issued an order to cease operations.
Ask
To invite someone or propose a question.
They ask us to join them for dinner.
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
Ask
To put a question to
When we realized that we didn't know the answer, we asked the teacher.
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
Ask
To seek an answer to
Ask a question.
Order
A particular social, political, or economic system
They were dedicated to overthrowing the established order
Ask
To seek information about
Asked directions.
Order
A society of monks, nuns, or friars living under the same religious, moral, and social regulations and discipline
The Franciscan Order
Ask
To make a request of
Asked me for a loan.
Order
The quality or nature of something
Poetry of the highest order
Ask
To make a request for. Often used with an infinitive or clause
Ask a favor of a friend.
Asked to go along on the trip.
Asked that he be allowed to stay out late.
Order
A principal taxonomic category that ranks below class and above family
The higher orders of insects
Ask
To require or call for as a price or condition
Asked ten dollars for the book.
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.
Ask
To expect or demand
Ask too much of a child.
Order
Equipment or uniform for a specified purpose or of a specified type
The platoon changed from drill order into PT kit
Ask
To invite
Asked them to dinner.
Order
The degree of complexity of an equation, expression, etc., as denoted by an ordinal number.
Ask
(Archaic)To publish, as marriage banns.
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
Ask
To make inquiry; seek information.
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?
Ask
To make a request
Asked for help.
Order
Arrange (something) in a methodical way
Her normally well-ordered life
All entries are ordered by date
Ask
The act of making a request
“He was contacted by the mayor's fund-raiser ... a day after the mayor made the ask” (Jennifer Fermino).
Order
A condition of logical or comprehensible arrangement among the separate elements of a group.
Ask
Something that is requested
“Being funny on demand is a big ask” (Anne Curzan).
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.
Ask
To request (information, or an answer to a question).
I asked her age.
I asked her (for) her age.
Order
Condition or state in general
The escalator is in good working order.
Ask
To put forward (a question) to be answered.
To ask a question
Order
The established system of social organization
"Every revolution exaggerates the evils of the old order" (C. Wright Mills).
Ask
To interrogate or enquire of (a person).
I'm going to ask this lady for directions.
Order
A condition in which freedom from disorder or disruption is maintained through respect for established authority
Finally restored order in the rebellious provinces.
Ask
To request or petition; usually with for.
To ask for a second helping at dinner
To ask for help with homework
Emma asked Jim to close his eyes.
Order
A sequence or arrangement of successive things
Changed the order of the files.
Ask
To request permission to do something.
She asked to see the doctor.
Did you ask to use the car?
Order
The prescribed form or customary procedure, as in a meeting or court of law
The bailiff called the court to order.
Ask
To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
What price are you asking for the house?
Order
An authoritative indication to be obeyed; a command or direction.
Ask
To invite.
Don't ask them to the wedding.
Order
A command given by a superior military officer requiring obedience, as in the execution of a task.
Ask
To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.
Order
Orders Formal written instructions to report for military duty at a specified time and place.
Ask
(figuratively) To take (a person's situation) as an example.
Order
A commission or instruction to buy, sell, or supply something.
Ask
An act or instance of asking.
Order
That which is supplied, bought, or sold.
Ask
Something asked or asked for.
I know this is a big ask, but …
Order
A request made by a customer at a restaurant for a portion of food.
Ask
An asking price.
Order
The food requested.
Ask
(Internet) A message sent to a blog on social networking platform Tumblr, which can be publicly posted and replied to by the recipient.
Order
(Law) A directive or command of a court.
Ask
An eft; newt.
Order
Any of several grades of the Christian ministry
The order of priesthood.
Ask
A lizard.
Order
Often orders The rank of an ordained Christian minister or priest.
Ask
To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; - often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed.
Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Order
Often orders The sacrament or rite of ordination.
Ask
To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask?
Ask me never so much dowry.
To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity.
Order
Any of the nine grades or choirs of angels.
Ask
To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question.
He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
He asked the way to Chester.
Order
A group of persons living under a religious rule
Order of Saint Benedict.
Ask
To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.
Order
An organization of people united by a common fraternal bond or social aim.
Ask
To publish in church for marriage; - said of both the banns and the persons.
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.
Ask
To request or petition; - usually followed by for; as, to ask for bread.
Ask, and it shall be given you.
Order
The insignia worn by such people.
Ask
To make inquiry, or seek by request; - sometimes followed by after.
Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name?
Order
Often orders A social class
The lower orders.
Ask
A water newt.
Order
A class defined by the common attributes of its members; a kind.
Ask
Inquire about;
I asked about their special today
He had to ask directions several times
Order
Degree of quality or importance; rank
Poetry of a high order.
Ask
Make a request or demand for something to somebody;
She asked him for a loan
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.
Ask
Direct or put; seek an answer to;
Ask a question
Order
A style of building
A cathedral of the Gothic order.
Ask
Consider obligatory; request and expect;
We require our secretary to be on time
Aren't we asking too much of these children?
I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons
Order
(Biology) A taxonomic category of organisms ranking above a family and below a class.
Ask
Require or ask for as a price or condition;
He is asking $200 for the table
The kidnapers are asking a million dollars in return for the release of their hostage
Order
The sum of the exponents to which the variables in a term are raised; degree.
Ask
Address a question to and expect an answer from;
Ask your teacher about trigonometry
The children asked me about their dead grandmother
Order
An indicated number of successive differentiations to be performed.
Ask
Require as useful, just, or proper;
It takes nerve to do what she did
Success usually requires hard work
This job asks a lot of patience and skill
This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
This intervention does not postulates a patient's consent
Order
The number of elements in a finite group.
Ask
To request information or a response.
She will ask about the meeting's time.
Order
The number of rows or columns in a determinant or matrix.
Ask
To seek permission or approval.
Can I ask to leave early today?
Order
To issue a command or instruction to
Ordered the sailors to stow their gear.
Ask
To demand or expect something.
The job asks a lot of patience.
Order
To direct to proceed as specified
Ordered the intruders off the property.
Order
To give a command or instruction for
The judge ordered a recount of the ballots.
Order
To request to be supplied with
Order eggs and bacon for breakfast.
Order
To put into a methodical, systematic arrangement
Ordered the books on the shelf.
Order
To predestine; ordain.
Order
To give an order or orders; request that something be done or supplied.
Order
(countable) Arrangement, disposition, or sequence.
Put the children in age order
It's arranged in order of frequency
Order
(countable) A position in an arrangement, disposition, or sequence.
Order
(uncountable) The state of being well arranged.
The house is in order; the machinery is out of order.
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!
Order
(countable) A command.
Give an order
His inability to follow orders
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
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.
Order
(countable) An association of knights.
The Order of the Garter, the Order of the Bath.
Order
Any group of people with common interests.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Order
(cricket) The sequence in which a side’s batsmen bat; the batting order.
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
Order
(chemistry) The overall power of the rate law of a chemical reaction, expressed as a polynomial function of concentrations of reactants and products.
Order
(set theory) The cardinality, or number of elements in a set, group, or other structure regardable as a set.
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 command given by someone in authority.
The sergeant issued an order to advance.
Order
A condition in which each thing is properly disposed with reference to other things and to its purpose.
My desk is in order, so I can work efficiently.
Order
An instruction to make, supply, or deliver food or goods.
He placed an order for a new laptop.
Common Curiosities
Can ask and order be used interchangeably?
No, due to the different levels of authority and implications of compliance.
What is the primary function of an order?
An order is primarily used to command or dictate action.
How is asking different from ordering?
Asking implies seeking permission or information, unlike ordering which involves directing.
Is a response mandatory when asked?
No, a response is voluntary when someone is asked.
What scenarios are appropriate for using ask?
Social interactions, information gathering, and casual workplace communication often use asking.
Is asking more flexible than ordering?
Yes, asking is generally more flexible and allows for negotiation or refusal.
What is the importance of knowing when to order or ask?
It's crucial for effective leadership and communication, respecting authority and personal autonomy.
What scenarios typically involve an order?
Military commands, workplace directives, and legal decrees often involve orders.
What does ask imply in a workplace?
It generally implies seeking information or suggestions without authoritative pressure.
Does an order require a response?
Yes, an order typically requires compliance and action.
How do order and ask affect communication style?
Order directs, limiting dialogue, whereas ask encourages open communication and feedback.
Can the context change the implication of these terms?
Yes, context heavily influences how authoritative or collaborative each term can be perceived.
How does the tone differ between asking and ordering?
Ordering uses a more authoritative tone, while asking is usually more polite and tentative.
Can both order and ask indicate politeness?
Order is less about politeness and more about command, whereas ask is inherently more polite.
What does order imply in a workplace?
It implies a directive that employees are expected to follow.
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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.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
