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

Be sure to sort out your priorities at this time. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026

Tomorrow, turn your focus to the Championship because its the last day of regular fixtures, and there’s plenty to sort out. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 1 May 2026

The finer points of that testimony will be sorted out during the trial, Wilson said. —Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 30 Apr. 2026

While these tools remain limited, they have been explored deeply over the past few decades — not just for the sake of ultrafinitism, but because sorting out the shape of things is important for developing a finite physics. —Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for sort out

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