What does orient mean?
Orient means to establish direction or position, both literally and figuratively. A traveller might orient themselves by using a compass, while a new employee may orient themselves to the procedures and expectations of a workplace. The verb can also mean to direct something toward a particular orientation: a sign may orient vehicles toward the entrance, or a guide may orient visitors to the building. In this use, orient can suggest a deliberate adjustment of position, attention, or perspective. In British English, 'orient' is especially familiar in the expression 'orient oneself to,' meaning to become familiar with a new activity, environment, or set of circumstances. The word is formal but widely understood, and it is often used in education, travel, business, and navigation. It is related to the idea of the east or rising sun, as reflected in its association with words such as 'orientation' and 'Oriental.'
verbTo determine or establish the position, direction, or orientation of oneself or something else. It can also mean to make someone familiar with a new situation, activity, or environment.
- To determine or establish the position, direction, or orientation of oneself or something else.
- To cause someone or something to face a particular direction.
- To make someone familiar with a new situation, activity, or environment.
"After moving abroad, she took a moment to orient herself by locating the nearest train station."
"The hikers oriented themselves using the compass before setting off."
"The orientation session helped new employees understand the company's working practices."
To orient yourself is to work out not just where you are, but what direction you are facing and what is around you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does orient come from?
The word comes through Old French from Latin orientare, a verb derived from oriens, meaning 'rising sun' or 'east.' The underlying idea is that the rising sun establishes a clear direction, which led to the modern sense of determining direction or position. The same Latin root also underlies related English words such as 'oriental,' 'orientalism,' and 'orientalize.'
Related word forms
How orient is actually used
In its third sense, especially in British English, 'orient' is often used with an object followed by 'to': 'She oriented the students to the course.' In American English, 'orient' is also commonly used intransitively in phrases such as 'orient yourself.'