orientation

noun

ˌȯr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce orientation (audio)
Definition of orientationnext
as in aspect
the state or fact of facing a particular direction a building's orientation is an important consideration in the Chinese practice of feng shui

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of orientation Mission managers successfully established communications with LINK after launch, but less than two weeks into the flight, teams began reporting problems with the probe’s orientation. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026 But there are tiny systemic deviations at small angles in that orientation, which in turn create the twisted structure. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 It is planned through orientation, spacing, acoustics, circulation, landscape, service routes, and the careful placement of moments throughout a property. — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 On a trip to UC Irvine for orientation with her son, one flew into her long, curly hair. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for orientation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orientation
  1. aspect
  2. alignment
  3. exposure
Noun
  • How experts can earn trust Experts cannot assume that others see them as trustworthy or that people will pay attention to them while ignoring sources who have demonstrated other aspects of trustworthiness.
    — John C. Besley, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Getting enough magnesium — a mineral involved in hundreds of bodily processes — can help support several aspects of health and overall well-being during this stage of life.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of aspect
Noun
  • For a precision folding bike where millimeter-perfect alignment dictates how smoothly the hinges open and close, keeping the metal perfectly straight is a manufacturing advantage.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
  • There’s an emphasis on postural alignment by integrating the deep core, more than barre does.
    — Amber Raiken, Verywell Health, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of alignment
Noun
  • The study defined high-exposure counties as having median annual emissions of 51 pounds of ethylbenzene and 44 pounds of toulene.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Shape-memory polymers can be programmed to return to a particular shape after exposure to a stimulus, often heat.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of exposure

Browse Nearby Words

orientating
orientation
orientations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Orientation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orientation. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on orientation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about orientation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All