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

Even the Smith acquisition in 2022 was overshadowed by the San Francisco 49ers’ deal with the Carolina Panthers for star running back Christian McCaffrey, which happened about 10 days earlier. —Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025

Carson crafts a sparse and reflective modern reimagining that deals with abuse, love and ultimately growth into adulthood. —Amber McBride, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025

Per Adam Schefter, the Chargers have traded for offensive lineman Trevor Penning, engaging in a last-second deal with the New Orleans Saints. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

The former vice president had long dealt with a history heart problems. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025