deal with

phrasal verb

dealt with; dealing with; deals with

1

: to be about (something) : to have (something) as a subject

Her speech dealt with health care and the nation's economy.

The film deals with some serious issues.

2

: to make business agreements with (someone)

He deals fairly with all his customers.

Their salespeople are very easy to deal with.

3

: to do something about (a person or thing that causes a problem or difficult situation)

The government dealt harshly with the rebels.

I'll deal with you later.

We weren't able/equipped/prepared to deal with such a large crowd of people.

4

: to accept or try to accept (something that is true and cannot be changed)

She's still trying to deal with his death.

The weather is bad, but we'll just have to deal with it.

Examples of deal with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over time, drooping leaves can signal the plant is weakening and struggling to deal with an infestation. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025

The pair stuck together even as Wags dealt with bouts of homelessness during a years-long battle with addiction. —Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Dec. 2025

Such delicate subjects are often best dealt with in private. —Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Dec. 2025

Kayla is the youngest of five children, and the family is also dealing with the financial strain of her recovery. —Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025