Definition of sort
1a : a group set up on the basis of any characteristic in common : class, kindb : one approximating the character or qualities of another a sort of latter-day Abe Lincolnc : person, individual he's not a bad sort
3a archaic : method or manner of acting : way, mannerb : character, nature people of an evil sort
4a : a letter or character that is one element of a fontb : a character or piece of type that is not part of a regular font
5 : an instance of sorting a numeric sort of a data file
after a sort
: in a rough or haphazard way plays the piano, after a sort
all sorts of
: many different : all kinds of knows all sorts of people
of sorts
orof a sort
: in some respects but not entirely or truly a vacation of sorts
out of sorts
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Examples of sort in a Sentence
What sort of car do you drive?
He's not a bad sort.
She's not the sort to complain.
The program did a numeric sort of the data.
Origin and Etymology of sort
Middle English, from Anglo-French, fate, lot, characteristic, from Latin sort-, sors lot, share, category — more at series
Synonym Discussion of sort
sort
Definition of sort
transitive verb
1a : to put in a certain place or rank according to kind, class, or nature sort apples sort mailb : to arrange according to characteristics : classify —usually used with out sort out colors
2 chiefly Scotland : to put to rights : put in order
3a : to examine in order to clarify —used with out sorting out his problemsb : to free of confusion : clarify —used with out waited until things sorted themselves out
intransitive verb
1 : to join or associate with others especially of the same kind sort with thieves
2 : agree, harmonize his benign view sorts badly with reality — Henry Trewhitt
3 : search sort through some old papers
sorter
nounExamples of sort in a Sentence
She started to sort the mail.
They sorted the winners from the losers.
The program can sort data alphabetically or numerically.
First Known Use of sort
14th century
SORT Defined for English Language Learners
sort
playDefinition of sort for English Language Learners
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: a group of people or things that have some shared quality : a particular kind or type of person or thing
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: a person of a particular type
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: the act of separating things and putting them in a particular order : the act of sorting things
sort
Definition of sort for English Language Learners
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: to separate and put (people or things) in a particular order
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: to deal with (something or someone) in a successful way
SORT Defined for Kids
Definition of sort for Students
1 : a group of persons or things that have something in common : kind all sorts of people
2 : person 1, individual He was not a bad sort.
3 : general disposition : nature people of an evil sort
out of sorts
1 : not feeling well
2 : easily angered : irritable
Learn More about sort
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See words that rhyme with sort Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sort Spanish Central: Translation of sort Nglish: Translation of sort for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sort for Arabic speakers
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