sort

A group of things or people that share certain features.

• What sort of fruit is this?
• She enjoys all sorts of music.
• We have never faced this sort of problem before.

How to use it: sort of something (What sort of music do you like?)

Similar words: kind, type, category

Common phrases: sort of something, this sort, different sort

A person described as having certain qualities, especially being pleasant or unpleasant.

• He is a good sort.
• Our new neighbour seems a decent sort.
• I thought she was a quiet sort until she joined the debate.

Similar words: person

Common phrases: a good sort, a decent sort, a bad sort

An occasion when you put things into groups or order.

• These papers need a sort.
• We had a quick sort of the cupboard.
• A thorough sort of her clothes took all afternoon.

How to use it: a sort of something (I had a sort of the papers in my drawer.)

Similar words: sorting, reorganization

Common phrases: have a sort, a quick sort, a thorough sort

To put things into groups according to features they share.

• Please sort these clothes.
• He sorted the apples by colour.
• Have you sorted the letters into separate piles?

How to use it: sort something by something (Sort the buttons by size.); sort something into something (She sorted the letters into three piles.)

Similar words: group, classify, separate

Opposites: mix

Common phrases: sort the laundry, sort by colour, sort into groups, sort by size

To arrange things in a particular order, such as by name, date, or number.

• Sort the names alphabetically.
• She sorted the photos by date.
• Can you sort these numbers from smallest to largest?

How to use it: sort something by something (Sort the files by date.); sort something in something order (Sort the names in alphabetical order.)

Similar words: order, arrange

Opposites: shuffle

Common phrases: sort by date, sort alphabetically, sort a list