WordVale

sort out

to organize; to resolve

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to organize things into groups or categories

2. (verb) to solve a problem or deal with a difficult situation

3. (verb) to separate something from a group of things

Examples

• 1. I need to sort out these old photos into albums.
• 2. We need to sort out the budget problem before the end of the month.
• 3. The teacher sorted out the homework papers and gave them back to the students.

How to use sort out

Sort out is a versatile phrasal verb used in both formal and informal contexts to mean organizing, categorizing, or resolving issues. It often implies bringing order to chaos or clarifying a confused situation. It is slightly more colloquial than formal synonyms like 'organize' or 'resolve', making it common in everyday speech and business communication.

Common phrases

• sort out the problem
• sort out the details
• sort things out
• sort out a dispute
• get sorted out

Synonyms

organize · arrange · resolve · deal with · separate

Opposites

mess up · confuse

Word family

sort · sorted · sorting · sorter

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'sort out' without a direct object in contexts where one is needed; the phrase requires clarity about what is being sorted, arranged, or resolved.

Nearby in Phrasal Verbs

run into, run out of, set up, stand for, stand out, step down

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained