pre-order

pre-order — verb

IPA/ˌpriːˈɔː.dər/
IPA/ˌpriːˈɔːr.dɚ/
  • pre-orderpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • pre-orders3rd person singular
  • pre-ordering-ing form
  • pre-orderedpast simple

1. to place an order for something that has been announced but is not yet on sale,

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to place an order for something that has been announced but is not yet on sale, so that you receive it as soon as it comes out.

Example

Kemi decided to pre-order the new smartphone as soon as she saw the launch date.

pre-order + [product] using a specific time reference

The game developer offered a free bonus level to anyone who would pre-order the title.

offer + infinitive: incentive for pre-ordering

Common collocations
  • pre-order [product]
  • pre-order from [seller/website]
  • pre-order online
  • pre-order early
Synonyms
  • reserve

    implies setting aside a copy rather than committing to a purchase

  • book in advance

    more common for services (hotels, flights) than physical products

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

pre-order + [product]

pre-order + [product] + from + [seller]

Usage Note

Common in commercial and e-commerce contexts. The object is typically a product that has been announced but not yet shipped. This sense is typically transitive and rarely used in the passive voice.

Common Mistakes

I pre-ordered for the new book.
I pre-ordered the new book.
'pre-order' is transitive and takes the product as its direct object, not the preposition 'for'.

pre-order — noun

IPA/ˈpriː ɔːdə(r)/
IPA/ˈpriː ɔːrdər/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Pre-order, reserve, book in advance, and order all involve requesting something before you receive it, but they differ in timing and context. 'Pre-order' specifically means placing an order before a product has gone on sale, typically for new releases like electronics, video games, or books. 'Reserve' suggests setting aside a copy or a place without necessarily committing to a purchase immediately — for example, reserving a library book or a table at a restaurant. 'Book in advance' is used mainly for services such as flights, hotels, or appointments and focuses on securing a spot ahead of time. 'Order' is the most general term and can refer to any purchase request, whether before or after a product is available. For example, you pre-order a new video game months before its release date; you reserve a copy at a local game shop; you book a hotel room in advance for your holiday; but you simply order a pair of shoes from an online store that already has them in stock.

pre-order ↗reserve ↗book in advanceorder ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • pre-order bonus
  • pre-order status
  • pre-order window
  • pre-order price

Adverbs

  • pre-order online
  • pre-order directly from [company]

Phrases

  • place a pre-order for
  • take pre-orders
  • pre-order now

Prepositions

  • pre-order from [seller]
  • pre-order before [date]

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by combining the prefix 'pre-' (meaning 'before', from Latin 'prae-') with the verb 'order' (from Latin 'ordinare', meaning 'to arrange in order'). The compound 'pre-order' emerged in commercial use in the mid-20th century and became widespread with the rise of e-commerce and pre-release marketing in the 1990s.

First known use

1937

1937, in the meaning defined above