sort out
Britishverb
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to find a solution to (a problem, etc), esp to make clear or tidy
it took a long time to sort out the mess
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to take or separate, as from a larger group
he sorted out the most likely ones
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to organize into an orderly and disciplined group
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informal to beat or punish
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But plenty of Gen Z-ers can relate to the “Brinity” couple putting their spending plans on hold while they sort out their debt load.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
And the census is still trying to figure out how to ask questions to sort out race, ethnicity and origins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was urgently trying to set up a meeting with the president to sort out the competing issues, a person familiar with the matter said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
There are many antitrust issues to sort out, they note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
“Some job for the Ministry, trying to sort out who was being forced to act, and who was acting of their own free will. “
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
