verb / noun

countermand

KOWN-ter-mand/ˈkaʊntərmænd/

An order that cancels an earlier one, or the act of issuing it.

The supervisor countermands her loading order and directs the worker to return the crate.

A supervisor countermanding her loading order: in a compact two-panel sequence, she first directs a worker to wheel a crate up a truck ramp, then issues a stop-and-return command that the worker obeys by wheeling the same crate back down.

Etymology

“Against” modifies the act of ordering: a countermand is a command directed against an earlier command. It cancels or reverses that instruction by replacing it with a contrary one.

More examples

Unless a countermand arrives, the original orders remain in effect.
The supervisor countermands the instruction to stop production.
The captain countermanded the order before the ship left port.

Forms

countermand · countermands · countermanded · countermanding

Similar words

revoke: Withdraws an order, permission, or right without requiring another order.
rescind: Formally cancels decisions or agreements, not only earlier orders.
cancellation: Can end plans or arrangements, not just orders.