sort out

1 of 2

phrasal verb

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).

sort-out

2 of 2

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrasal verb

Panasonic promises its 5-axis in-body stabilization will sort out shaky video a fair bit without cropping. —New Atlas, 1 Mar. 2025

But a few of the complexities of her secret origins have to be sorted out first. —Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025

Given time, the game will sort out its servers, and hopefully, everything will work more smoothly. —Ollie Barder, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

So would sorting out the legal and financial mishmash left by the exit of foreign companies. —Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

Rhymes for sort out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout