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

Samueli in 1994 Crucial to Broadcom’s chip designs was the need to sort out the signals being sent to subscribers from the cable operator’s headend. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Apr. 2025

Even if the settlement is approved and ultimately goes into effect next year, there are still several issues to sort out, and numerous lawsuits will continue to be filed. —Joe Sabin, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

Until this is sorted out, the House is jammed and can’t complete any other business. —Cate Martel, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025

Left to sort out what happened and why are Lady Tressilian’s lawyer, Mr. Treves (Clarke Peters); his teen ward, the observant and sticky-fingered Sylvia (Grace Doherty); and local Inspector Leach (Rhys). —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for sort out

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