sorted out; sorting out; sorts out
1
: to understand or find (something, such as a reason or a solution) by thinking
I'm trying to sort out a way to do it.
2
: to find an answer or solution for (something)
He's still trying to sort out his problems.
We need to get these problems sorted out as soon as possible.
They couldn't come up with a solution and decided to wait to see whether problem sorted itself out.
3
: to solve the problems of (someone)
They're still trying to sort their son out.
I just need a little more time to sort myself out.
4
British, informal
: to deal in a forceful way with (someone who is causing problems)
I told my brother they were bullying me, and he promised to sort them out (for me).
British
: an activity in which someone makes a room, closet, etc., neat and organized
Let's have a sort-out of the attic.
Examples of sort out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
The extension essentially gives taxpayers more time to sort out the paperwork.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
An interesting late-season wrinkle: Berube is still sorting out who will play next to John Tavares and William Nylander on the second line.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The details of such cuts would need to be sorted out in Congress, and the Senate has not yet worked out its own budget blueprint.
—Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sort out
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Phrasal verb
Left to sort out what happened and why are Lady Tressilian’s lawyer, Mr. Treves (Clarke Peters); his teen ward, the observant and sticky-fingered Sylvia (Grace Doherty); and local Inspector Leach (Rhys).
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
The extension essentially gives taxpayers more time to sort out the paperwork.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
An interesting late-season wrinkle: Berube is still sorting out who will play next to John Tavares and William Nylander on the second line.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The details of such cuts would need to be sorted out in Congress, and the Senate has not yet worked out its own budget blueprint.
—Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sort out
Cite this Entry
“Sort out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sort%20out. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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