sort 1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯrt How to pronounce sort (audio)
Definition of sortnext
1
as in kind
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common I prefer jackets with zippers to the sort that close with buttons

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in person
a member of the human race he's a decent sort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sort

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type sorted the mail into bills to be paid and junk to be thrown out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to travel
to come or be together as friends you should be careful about whom you sort with

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to correspond
to be in agreement on every point that doesn't sort with what you said the last time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sort distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sort are character, description, kind, nature, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can character take the place of sort?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of sort?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might kind be a better fit than sort?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace sort?

While in some cases nearly identical to sort, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is type a more appropriate choice than sort?

In some situations, the words type and sort are roughly equivalent. However, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sort
Noun
On November 21, 2020, a young woman in Brooklyn named Tanya Bush began to keep a diary of sorts. —Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 But her new role at Brooks is a homecoming of sorts. —Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
The public scrutinized every business—the decor, the staff’s remarks—to figure out their stance on the pro-democracy movement, sorting them into categories for support or boycott. —Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026 At the end of their useful life, all the parts can be sorted by material and recycled. —Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sort
  1. kind
  2. person
  3. classify
  4. travel
  5. correspond
  6. guy
  7. rank
  8. associate
Noun
  • The arbitrator was moved by his story but ruled against him anyway, denying him his last chance for a win of any kind at this year’s Olympics.
    — Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Returning on her sixth studio album, To Whom It May Concern, the Philadelphia native brings in immeasurable wisdom, blossoming into the effortless positivity and authenticity of past albums—the kind that has assisted multiple generations on their respective healing journeys.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • Don’t accept an argument from an authority because that person is an authority.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of person
Verb
  • The case is the first time the Justice Department has attempted to classify critical speech from prominent Trump detractors as a crime.
    — Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Commercial prediction markets have resisted efforts by states to classify and regulate them as gambling companies, insisting that they — like their precursor in Iowa — should be overseen by federal regulators.
    — Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of classify
Verb
  • As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Epstein frequently traveled there, according to DOJ documents, and Barrack was involved in multiple real estate deals involving Middle Eastern governments.
    — Daniel Ruetenik, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of travel
Verb
  • Moreover, the new subdivisions corresponded nicely to a map that Hintiryan and colleagues published in 2016 based on an entirely different technique, which traced connections between the caudoputamen and other regions.
    — Amber Dance, Quanta Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The system naturally tries to settle into its lowest-energy state, which corresponds to the best solution to the problem.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of correspond
Noun
  • Bernthal plays doomed Sonny, who’s hoping to pay for his lover’s gender-affirming operation; his longtime pal and costar on The Bear plays volatile Sal, the loneliest guy in the world.
    — Jenny Lumet, Vanity Fair, 10 Feb. 2026
  • You guys took a few years off in the mid-Seventies just as prog was reaching its peak of popularity.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of guy
Verb
  • Chief Deputy Chris Ketteman, who ranks just below the sheriff, decides whether each complaint warrants an internal affairs investigation or can be handled by a supervisor.
    — Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Feb. 2026
  • His 42nd-minute strike was his second and Arsenal’s eighth league goal from outside the box this season, which ranks them third of the Premier League teams (behind Bournemouth’s 11 and Aston Villa’s 13) for that metric.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of rank
Verb
  • Much of it is guilt by association — on the grounds, if nothing else, that elites should have known better than to associate with such a man.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
  • This is clearly not possible considering the importance of safety concerns associated with nuclear reactors, particularly new and novel designs.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of associate

Phrases Containing sort

Browse Nearby Words

sorry
sort
sorted
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Cite this Entry

“Sort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sort. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sort

Nglish: Translation of sort for Spanish Speakers

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