SORT OUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sort out mean? 

• SORT OUT (verb)
  The verb SORT OUT has 3 senses:

1. arrange or order by classes or categories

2. make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear

3. punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience

  Familiarity information: SORT OUT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SORT OUT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Arrange or order by classes or categories

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

assort; class; classify; separate; sort; sort out

Context example:

How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?

Hypernyms (to "sort out" is one way to...):

categorise; categorize (place into or assign to a category)

"Sort out" entails doing...:

compare (examine and note the similarities or differences of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sort out"):

unitise; unitize (separate or classify into units)

catalog; catalogue (make an itemized list or catalog of; classify)

isolate (separate (experiences) from the emotions relating to them)

refer (think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another)

reclassify (classify anew, change the previous classification)

size (sort according to size)

dichotomise; dichotomize (divide into two opposing groups or kinds)

pigeonhole; stamp; stereotype (treat or classify according to a mental stereotype)

group (arrange into a group or groups)

grade (determine the grade of or assign a grade to)

count; number (put into a group)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

clear; clear up; crystalise; crystalize; crystallise; crystallize; elucidate; enlighten; illuminate; shed light on; sort out; straighten out

Context example:

Clear up the question of who is at fault

Hypernyms (to "sort out" is one way to...):

clarify; clear up; elucidate (make clear and (more) comprehensible)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

correct; discipline; sort out

Context example:

The teacher disciplined the pupils rather frequently

Hypernyms (to "sort out" is one way to...):

penalise; penalize; punish (impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

A new moon marks the beginning of a process—rather than an end, brought on by full moons—so whatever came up will likely require time and attention from you to fully sort out—about six months (most likely) or up to a year (less likely).

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)