assort

[ uh-sawrt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to distribute, place, or arrange according to kind or class; classify; sort.
2. to furnish with a suitable assortment or variety of goods; make up of articles likely to suit a demand.
3. Archaic. to group with others of the same or similar kind; connect or identify as of a similar class; associate (usually followed by with ).

verb (used without object)

1. to agree in sort or kind; be matched or suited.
2. to associate; consort.

assort

/ əˈsɔːt /

verb

1. tr to arrange or distribute into groups of the same type; classify
2. intrusually foll bywith to fit or fall into a class or group; match
3. tr to supply with an assortment of merchandise
4. tr to put in the same category as others; group
5. rare.
   intrusually foll bywith to keep company; consort

Derived Forms

• asˈsortatively, adverb
• asˈsortative, adjective
• asˈsorter, noun

Other Words From

• as·sorta·tive as·sortive adjective
• as·sorta·tive·ly adverb
• as·sorter noun
• reas·sort verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of assort¹

From the Middle French word assorter, dating back to 1480–90. See as-, sort

Word History and Origins

Origin of assort¹

C15: from Old French assorter, from sorte sort

Example Sentences

In addition to the dread that, having led up to so much mischief, it would be now more likely than ever to alienate Joe from me if he believed it, I had a further restraining dread that he would not believe it, but would assort it with the fabulous dogs and veal-cutlets as a monstrous invention.

From Literature

“Customers will buy many of one type of item, but assort the variety,” says Kennedy Watson, who suggests buying multiple colors of beautifully made, versatile items like candles or bath products.

From Seattle Times

Homoeologous genes are sometimes called ‘alloalleles’ to emphasize their role as alternate forms of a gene, but since homoeologues are unlinked and assort independently, we do not use this terminology.

From Nature

We should follow, men say, the example of the bees, who flit about and cull the flowers that are suitable for producing honey, and then arrange and assort in their cells all that they have brought in; these bees, as our Vergil says,

From Time

We could try to assort that bunch top-to-bottom, from the front of the train to the caboose.

From Forbes