sort out

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phrasal verb

sorted out; sorting out; sorts out

: 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.

: 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.

: 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.

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).

sort-out

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noun

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

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Phrasal verb

Elmo and his friends are sorting out some big feelings on the latest season of Sesame Street — and some big name celebrities will be helping them. —

Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025 The Giants’ reality is that there are a lot of issues to sort out this offseason. —

Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025 That will be sorted out by a small army of lawyers. —

Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025 Until then, the only other watch brand that had sorted out how to get the lugs integrated gracefully was Cartier with the Santos and then the Tank—though those were not round watches. —

Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sort out