These words all mean to use your position of authority to say to sb that they must do sth. 以上各词均含命令、指挥、要求之义。

• order to use your position of authority to tell sb to do sth 指命令、指挥、要求：◆The company was ordered to pay compensation to its former employee. 公司被勒令向以前的员工作出补偿。◆'Come here at once!' she ordered. “马上过来！” 她命令道。
• tell to say to sb that they must or should do sth 指命令、指示、吩咐：◆He was told to sit down and wait. 有人吩咐他坐下等着。◆Don't tell me what to do! 别对我指手画脚的！
• instruct (rather formal) to tell sb to do sth, especially in a formal or official way 尤指以正式或官方的方式指示、命令、吩咐：◆The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately. 那封信指示他立即向总部汇报。
• direct (formal) to give an official order 指正式发出指示、命令：◆The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. 法官指示陪审团作出无罪裁决。
• command to use your position of authority to tell sb to do sth 指利用权力命令：◆He commanded his men to retreat. 他命令手下撤退。

order or command? 用 order 还是 command？

• Order is a more general word than command and can be used about anyone in a position of authority, such as a parent, teacher or government telling sb to do sth. Command is slightly stronger than order and is the normal word to use about an army officer giving orders, or in any context where it is normal to give orders without any discussion about them. It is less likely to be used about a parent or teacher. * order 含义较 command 宽泛，可指任何有权威的人，如父母、老师或政府下命令。command 的语气稍强于 order，是指部队长官发布命令的常规用词，或者用于没有商量余地的命令。command 不大用于父母或老师下命令的情况。

Patterns

• to order/tell/instruct/direct/command sb to do sth
• to order/instruct/direct/command that…
• to do sth as ordered/told/instructed/directed/commanded