sort

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a group set up on the basis of any characteristic in common : class, kind
b
: one approximating the character or qualities of another
a sort of latter-day Abe Lincoln
c
: person, individual
he's not a bad sort
2
archaic : group, company
3
a
archaic : method or manner of acting : way, manner
b
: character, nature
people of an evil sort
4
a
: a letter or character that is one element of a font
b
: 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

sort

2 of 2

verb

sorted; sorting; sorts

transitive verb

1
a
: to put in a certain place or rank according to kind, class, or nature
sort apples
sort mail
b
: to arrange according to characteristics : classify
usually used with out
sort out colors
2
chiefly Scotland : to put to rights : put in order
3
a
: to examine in order to clarify
used with out
sorting out his problems
b
: 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 realityHenry Trewhitt
3
: search
sort through some old papers
sortable adjective
sorter noun
Phrases
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 or of a sort
: in some respects but not entirely or truly
a vacation of sorts
out of sorts
1
: somewhat ill
2
Choose the Right Synonym for sort

type, kind, sort, nature, description, character mean a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities.

type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Examples of sort in a Sentence

Noun 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. Verb She started to sort the mail. They sorted the winners from the losers. The program can sort data alphabetically or numerically.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With the lights up, a town meeting shifts gears into a trial of sorts — one in which Thomas, who had sought to protect his fellow man, must defend himself, and does not know how, if the truth is not enough. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 Nef’s casting is an answer of sorts to the controversy of cis actors playing trans characters. Jessica Ferri, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 And instead, the judge picked a middle ground of sorts. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 Correspondent Elizabeth Palmer visits a fish beauty pageant of sorts at the All Japan Koi Show in Tokyo, and talks with fish breeders and aficionados about the charisma of koi. David Morgan, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024 But the area’s unique position on the Keystone Thrust Fault has created a sensation where older limestone was forced above younger limestone, creating a vivid mix of colors in the natural geology, with layers of varying grays mingling with the reds creating a rainbow mountain of sorts. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 But sidewalks can be an equalizer of sorts in New York City, where the very wealthy otherwise live very differently from the very poor. Anna Kodé, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 It’s been designed to act as a creative hub of sorts, housing a library of photography books curated by Todd Hido as well as a photo studio. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 Neal Brennan begins his forthcoming Netflix special with a disclaimer of sorts. Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Ballots are received, sorted and verified at the LA County ballot processing facility. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024 The 10 numbered carrot rings can be piled up and sorted by color while the cute wooden bunny looks on. Maya Polton, Parents, 18 Mar. 2024 During such trips, visitors join volunteer initiatives that sprang up in Israel over the past five months, providing extra hands for farmers struggling to harvest crops, cooking meals for families who have a parent serving in the reserves, or sorting donations for evacuees still living in hotels. Melanie Lidman, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 How to go about sorting right from wrong won’t have changed. Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024 All this mess would be sorted and sent to different waste centers to responsibly dispose of the material, according to Cain. Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Researchers collected data from 2011 to 2018 via the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and then sorted it into groups. Laura Hensley, Verywell Health, 1 Mar. 2024 The talking sorting sat is an unmissable addition to any collection of Harry Potter Lego sets. Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2024 Photos show researchers sorting their finds at the site. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sort.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, fate, lot, characteristic, from Latin sort-, sors lot, share, category — more at series

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sort was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sort

Cite this Entry

“Sort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sort. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sort

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a group of persons or things that have something in common : class
b
: person sense 1, individual
not a bad sort
2
a
archaic : method or manner of acting : way, manner
b
: general disposition : nature
people of an evil sort

sort

2 of 2 verb
1
: to separate and arrange by kind or class : classify
sort mail
sort out socks by color
2
: agree sense 6, suit
our views sort poorly with theirs
3
: search
sort through some old papers
sorter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sort

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