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

Catching up on work, sorting out life admin, organizing personal projects, emailing…Any activity requiring thought prolongs the brain’s state of alert, incompatible with the sleep phase. —Mélanie Nauche, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2025

As attacks once confined to heated Senate floor debate morphed into real life threats, Indiana State Police investigators tasked with sorting out who's behind them have kept their cards close to the vest. —Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 12 Dec. 2025

City leaders have until the end of the year to sort out the budget impasse. —Chris Tye, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025

Deputy prime minister and defense minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said last week that Warsaw is ready to move once the remaining logistics are sorted out. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for sort out

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