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
Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
The government has not yet filed documents specifying why Khalil was detained, and a federal judge earlier this week ordered immigration officials not to remove Khalil from the country while his case is sorted out.
—TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto also wants in, so who borrows what and who keeps what continues to be sorted out.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 7 Mar. 2025
If Trump was able to continue to arbitrarily ignore Congressional foreign aid appropriations, aid organizations would continue to collapse and living, breathing human beings would die while the courts take years to sort out who has what power.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sort out
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Phrasal verb
But there are a lot of schedules to sort out, and then the pandemic got in the way.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
The government has not yet filed documents specifying why Khalil was detained, and a federal judge earlier this week ordered immigration officials not to remove Khalil from the country while his case is sorted out.
—TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto also wants in, so who borrows what and who keeps what continues to be sorted out.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 7 Mar. 2025
If Trump was able to continue to arbitrarily ignore Congressional foreign aid appropriations, aid organizations would continue to collapse and living, breathing human beings would die while the courts take years to sort out who has what power.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 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 19 Mar. 2025.
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