To orient yourself means to figure out where you are and which direction you're facing. When hikers get lost in the woods, they might use a compass and map to orient themselves, determining which way is north so they can find their trail again. Athletes who compete in orienteering races navigate through forests and mountains using only a map and compass, racing to find checkpoints while constantly reorienting themselves as the terrain changes.

Today we orient ourselves in many ways beyond geography. When you start at a new school, you attend orientation to learn where your classrooms are, meet your teachers, and understand how things work. A disoriented person feels confused about their surroundings or situation, like waking up in an unfamiliar room and needing a moment to remember where you are.

You can orient objects too. When you orient a picture frame on the wall, you position it correctly, making sure it's not crooked or upside down. Scientists talk about how molecules are oriented in space, and architects orient buildings to catch the best sunlight.