sort out

1 of 2

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

Verb

All this will come to the fore when Apple eventually sorts out its own AI strategy and catches iPhone up with other platforms. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

The court system will have to sort out the mess here, but there are some tough lessons to be learned from following your heart down a path that leaves you in a spot where nudes are allegedly flying around. —Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026

And certain extensions are given after the death of a primary owner while heirs sort out affairs. —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026

Yu eventually sorted out her billing issue, but the experience left her wary. —Davi Jacobs, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026

Rhymes for sort out

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