Sorting: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when organizing items based on certain criteria or attributes. Common in contexts involving data, lists, or physical items.

• Sorting the books by genre made it easier to find what I wanted.
• The algorithm is efficient at sorting large amounts of data.

Used when describing the placement or layout of objects in a specific order or pattern. Often used in contexts involving aesthetics or spatial organization.

• The flower arrangement on the table was beautiful.
• The seating arrangement at the event was well thought out.

Used when categorizing items into predefined groups or classes. Common in scientific, academic, and organizational contexts.

• The classification of animals into species helps scientists study them more easily.
• Our project's success relies on accurate data classification.

Used when referring to the sequence or position of items. It can also imply tidiness or an organized state. This term is quite general.

• The books are in alphabetical order.
• Maintaining order in the office is essential for productivity.

Commonly used for arranging items in a specific order, such as alphabetically or numerically. Often used in technical, organizational, or everyday contexts.

• She spent the morning sorting her emails by date.
• The librarian is sorting the books by genre.

Used when examining and sorting through items, usually to find something specific or to remove unwanted parts. It often has a more thorough or detailed connotation.

• She sifted through the documents to find the relevant information.
• They sifted the flour to remove any lumps.

Used when dividing items or parts from each other, often to create distinct groups. It can be used in physical, abstract, or organizational contexts.

• Please separate the recyclables from the trash.
• They had to separate the different components of the project.

Used when selecting specific items from a larger group based on certain criteria. Often used in contexts like data analysis, web searches, or social media.

• You can filter your search results by date.
• He filtered the emails to find the most important ones.