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Synonyms

sorting

American  
[sawr-ting] / ˈsɔr tɪŋ /

noun

Geology.

  1. the process by which sedimentary particles become separated according to some particular characteristic, as size or shape.

sorting Scientific  
/ sôr′tĭng /

  1. The process by which sediment particles that have a certain characteristic, such as a given shape or grain size, are separated from other associated particles by an active agent of transportation, such as wind, a stream, or a glacier.

  2. A measure of the degree to which this process has occurred within a body of sediment. Wind-blown sediments are usually well-sorted because only a small range of grain sizes can be lifted by a particular wind velocity. Glacially derived sediments are usually poorly sorted because of the great range of particle sizes that are picked up by a moving glacier.

Etymology

Origin of sorting

sort + -ing 1

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.

Barron’s in January drew up a to-do list for Disney’s new CEO, outlining four top priorities: accelerating streaming growth, pumping out more box-office hits, sorting out ESPN, and building on theme-park success.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Its rival parties have expressed suspicion about the timing of the announcement, but all have made ending the dispute and sorting out collections a priority.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Once there, they endured a cruel sorting in the gymnasium of the Ingram Elementary School, which had been repurposed as a reunification center.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Materne expects that software stocks will go through a sorting process, meaning that successful software investors will need to be discerning when looking for opportunities.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

Dropping my bag on the floor beside the desk, I slide into the roller chair and start the process of opening the mail and sorting it into piles.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

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.