Sort (noun) — a type or kind of person, thing, or action: "What sort of music do you like?"
Sort (verb) — to arrange or organise items into groups or order: "She sorted the letters by date."
Sort out (phrasal verb) — to deal with a problem and resolve it: "I'll sort it out before the meeting."
What Does Sort Mean?
Sort is one of the most frequently used words in British English. It entered the language in the 14th century from Old French sorte (type, manner) and Latin sors / sortis (lot, fate, rank) — the original sense related to drawing lots or dividing by chance. By the 15th century the meaning had broadened to describe any type or category of person or thing, and the verb sense of arranging into groups followed naturally from that root.
Today, sort is used across all registers. As a noun it is a near-synonym of kind and type, though it tends to feel slightly more conversational. As a verb it describes the physical act of organising things — sorting mail, sorting files, sorting recycling. The phrasal verb sort out is especially productive in informal British English, covering everything from resolving a dispute to arranging a meeting to tidying a cupboard.
Learners should note that sort of also functions as an adverb in spoken English, softening a statement or expressing vagueness: "I sort of understand what you mean." This use is informal and should be avoided in formal writing.
Example Sentences by CEFR Level
| Level | Sentence | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | What sort of music do you enjoy listening to in English? | noun: type / kind |
| B1 | Can you sort these books into alphabetical order, please? | verb: organise into order |
| B1 | Don’t worry — I’ll sort it out by tomorrow morning. | phrasal verb: resolve a problem |
| B2 | The new database software can sort records by date, name, or category in seconds. | verb: arrange data by criterion |
| C1 | There are all sorts of reasons why the proposal failed, not all of them immediately obvious to outside observers. | noun plural: various types; formal register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| all sorts of | We sell all sorts of teas and herbal infusions. |
| some sort of | There must be some sort of misunderstanding. |
| what sort of | What sort of contract did they offer you? |
| this sort of thing | This sort of thing happens all the time in large organisations. |
| sort out | We need to sort out the budget before the end of the week. |
| sort through | She spent the afternoon sorting through old photographs. |
| sort into | Sort the applications into three piles: yes, no, and maybe. |
| sort by | You can sort the results by price, rating, or distance. |
| sort of | I sort of knew something was wrong when he didn’t reply. |
| sorted | The venue is booked and the catering is sorted — we’re good to go. |
Usage Notes
Key Points for Learners
- Noun + of: Sort is always followed by of when used as a noun before another noun: a sort of problem, this sort of behaviour. Never omit of.
- Singular vs plural: Use a singular verb after this sort of / that sort of: "This sort of mistake is common." Use a plural verb after these sorts of / those sorts of: "These sorts of mistakes are common."
- Sort out is informal. In formal writing, prefer resolve, address, arrange, or organise.
- Sorted as an adjective is informal British English meaning everything is arranged or dealt with: "Is everything sorted for the trip?" It is not used this way in formal writing.
- Sort of as a hedging adverb is spoken English only. In writing, use rather, somewhat, or to some extent.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
What sort music do you like?
What sort of music do you like? (sort must be followed by of)
These sort of mistakes is very common.
These sorts of mistakes are very common. (plural subject takes plural verb)
I will sort the problem.
I will sort out the problem. (the verb is sort out, not sort alone, when meaning resolve)
We need to sort out this sort problem immediately.
We need to sort out this sort of problem immediately.