sort out — to organize, arrange, or resolve something that is confused or problematic
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to organize, arrange, or resolve something that is confused or problematic
Pronunciation (IPA): /sɔːrt aʊt/
Example Sentences
- My mom told me to sort out my relationship status because she's tired of explaining to relatives why I'm still single.
- I need to sort out my priorities - Netflix or studying for the TEPS exam.
- The teacher promised to sort out the student who kept disrupting the class.
sort out
VERB[/sɔːrt aʊt/]
to organize, arrange, or resolve something that is confused or problematic
She sorts out the tangled cables before the meeting starts.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'sort' derives from 14th-century French 'sorte', meaning 'kind' or 'manner'. When combined with the adverb 'out', the phrasal verb 'sort out' developed the meaning 'to classify or separate and remove', literally 'to sort outward'.
Breakdown
sort (to classify, from French sorte meaning 'kind') + out (away, outward) = to organize, separate, or resolve by distinguishing and removing unwanted elements.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom told me to sort out my relationship status because she's tired of explaining to relatives why I'm still single.”
“I need to sort out my priorities - Netflix or studying for the TEPS exam.”
“The teacher promised to sort out the student who kept disrupting the class.”
“Can you help me sort out these cables? They look like spaghetti behind my computer.”
📚Related Words
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