orient

To help someone, or yourself, understand a new place or situation.

• The tour helps orient new students.
• She needed time to orient herself to the role.
• A short meeting oriented the team to the new procedures.

How to use it: orient oneself to something (It took me a week to orient myself to the new system.); orient someone to something (The manager oriented us to the company's procedures.)

Similar words: familiarize, acquaint

Common phrases: orient new staff, orient yourself, orient new students

To place something so it faces a particular direction.

• Orient the map toward north.
• They oriented the house to face the sea.
• Can we orient the windows toward the garden?

How to use it: orient something toward something (Orient the solar panels toward the sun.)

Similar words: align, position

Common phrases: orient a building, orient something north, orient a map

To work out where you are and which direction you are facing.

• I stopped to orient myself.
• She oriented herself using a compass.
• Can you orient yourself without a map?

How to use it: orient oneself (I used the church tower to orient myself.)

Similar words: get one's bearings

Common phrases: orient yourself, orient yourself outdoors