sort 1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯrt How to pronounce sort (audio)
Definition of sortnext
1
as in kind
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common I prefer jackets with zippers to the sort that close with buttons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in person
a member of the human race he's a decent sort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sort

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to travel
to come or be together as friends you should be careful about whom you sort with

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to correspond
to be in agreement on every point that doesn't sort with what you said the last time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type sorted the mail into bills to be paid and junk to be thrown out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sort distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sort are character, description, kind, nature, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can character take the place of sort?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of sort?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might kind be a better fit than sort?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace sort?

While in some cases nearly identical to sort, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is type a more appropriate choice than sort?

In some situations, the words type and sort are roughly equivalent. However, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sort
Noun
The Europeans are in a contest, of sorts, with other very large telescope construction projects. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2025 John Cena is back as the low-key nicest antihero (of sorts) in the comic book business; with him are trusty sidekicks Eagly and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma). —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
Verb
Tasks are sorted by significance, urgency and impact. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025 Resilient future When haulers drop off food waste at the Green Era Campus warehouse, a machine sorts it and removes any packaging. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sort
  1. kind
  2. person
  3. travel
  4. correspond
  5. classify
  6. guy
  7. associate
  8. coincide
Noun
  • While a return to European competition of any kind would be something to heartily celebrate, playing in the third-tier Conference League’s qualifying rounds would somehow still feel like scant reward for a season that promised even more for so long.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • The new program at La Jolla High is believed to be the first of its kind in SDUSD’s La Jolla Cluster of schools.
    — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2025
Definition of kind
Noun
  • The Clinic notes that a person is more likely to develop alopecia if there is a family history of the condition or if family members have other autoimmune diseases like lupus or thyroid disease.
    — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 10 May 2025
  • The raid at the unidentified health care executive’s home was authorized by a judge after a person phoned in a tip to the FBI, according to the affidavit.
    — Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
Definition of person
Verb
  • Messi and his teammates will travel to San Jose on Sunday and train there in preparation for Wednesday’s 10:30 p.m. game against the Earthquakes, who are coached by former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena and whose roster includes former Inter Miami player Josef Martinez.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 May 2025
  • Ramsey flies more than 400,000 miles per year and has traveled to all 7 continents, 50 U.S. states and 173 of the United Nations countries.
    — Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Definition of travel
Verb
  • One inevitable complication in understanding how attention paid to stories in the news corresponds with political support is that consumers can design a media diet of information from only one side or perspective.
    — Ruth Igielnik, New York Times, 18 May 2025
  • What’s Going On Inside Your Brain When Your Mind Goes Blank? New Insight Into Eureka Moments Example of the hidden picture puzzles in the black/white images on the left; corresponding real-world picture on the right.
    — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2025
Definition of correspond
Verb
  • Our writers picked a few obvious candidates (anytime Lamar Jackson-Patrick Mahomes clash in any year classifies as must-see).
    — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Based on double-occupancy stateroom bookings, groups typically need to have a minimum of five to eight cabins to be classified as a group.
    — Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
Definition of classify
Noun
  • Old-timers from the neighborhood sit around reading or gossiping, clapping along to whatever music is playing on the system, often at volumes so loud that Coopersmith and his guys have to shout to each other while pricing records.
    — Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
  • The dynamics are informed by a baseline of data from Mack, who oversees the Royals quantitative analysis staff and performance science department ... and happens to be a sharp and animated guy who loves to talk about this stuff.
    — Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025
Definition of guy
Verb
  • Most funding entities, from science agencies to philanthropic organizations, want to be associated with exciting, groundbreaking work, and sustained observations are too routine to scratch that itch.
    — Eric Morgan, Wired News, 10 May 2025
  • The researchers hypothesized that left- and mixed-handedness could be associated with diseases that occur very early in life, because the dominant hand is determined at a very early age – possibly even before birth.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025
Definition of associate
Verb
  • The launch of the fund coincides with major sports leagues making multiple changes to ownership rules related to institutional investment.
    — Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 15 May 2025
  • Their arrival coincides with President Donald Trump’s administration’s decision to end refugee admissions from countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan and the Republic of Congo.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 14 May 2025
Definition of coincide

Phrases Containing sort

Browse Nearby Words

sorry
sort
sorted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sort. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on sort

Nglish: Translation of sort for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All