DictionaryAI

deal with

phrasal verb

Formsdeals with, dealing with, dealt with

6 meanings of deal with

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  1. 1
    face problemsphrasal verbtransitive
    To confront the difficulties that something causes, or to overcome them.

    Families across the region are still dealing with the aftermath of the flood.

    You'll have to deal with the noise if you rent an apartment above a bar.

    Similarhandle, face, confront, tackle, tolerate

    Oppositeavoid

    Note

    The object is often a whole situation, even a gerund: we had to deal with having just a gallon of gas. The progressive suits troubles still going on (she's dealing with a lot right now). Its neighbors lean one way each: cope with and make do with toward getting by, grapple with toward struggle, come to terms with toward acceptance. Deal with can mean any of these, or solving the problem.

  2. 2
    take care ofphrasal verbtransitive
    To take action concerning someone or something.

    The new software can deal with thousands of orders a day.

    Maintenance crews dealt with every broken window in the building before the tenants moved in.

    Similarhandle

    Oppositeignore, neglect

    Note

    A deliberately roomy verb: it says that something was handled without saying how. A computer deals with the pay of thousands of workers; diesel locomotives are dealt with before winter, which means fitted against frost. That vagueness suits reports and notices, and with a person as the object it leaves the method to the imagination: a teacher who knows how to deal with lazy students might be patient or strict.

  3. 3
    take care ofphrasal verbtransitive
    To be in charge of something, act on it, or dispose of it.

    A small team deals with customer refunds at the main office.

    I'll deal with the old paint cans this weekend and take them to the dump.

    Similarhandle, manage

  4. 4
    be aboutphrasal verbtransitive
    To discuss or treat something as a subject, whether in speech, in writing, or in a form of artistic expression.

    Her latest novel deals with grief and the slow work of recovery.

    The report does not deal with the cost of the project at all.

    Similaraddress, cover, treat, handle

    Note

    The subject is often the work rather than the person who made it: a book, a report, a film or a chapter deals with its topic. The object never comes between deal and with, and a passive leaves with at the end: the variety of subjects dealt with. Address, cover and treat are close synonyms that take their object directly, with no preposition.

  5. 5
    treat (people)phrasal verbtransitive
    To treat or behave toward someone in a particular way.

    The company has a reputation for dealing with its suppliers honestly.

    Judges must deal with every defendant impartially, whatever the charge.

    Similartreat

    Note

    Here the verb usually carries a word for the manner: fairly, honestly, harshly, impartially. That adverb can stand before with or after the object, so deals fairly with his employees and deals with his employees fairly mean the same. The pattern is old, and not always gentle: the King James Bible of 1611 has they shall deal furiously with thee.

  6. 6
    look at a casephrasal verbtransitive
    To take up and consider something as an example.

    To see how the rule works in practice, let us deal with the case of a family-run farm.

    Having dealt with Spain, the lecturer moved on to the case of Portugal.

    Similarconsider, take

    Note

    Lecturers and essayists use it as a signpost, often in the form let us deal with the case of: one instance is picked to stand for a general point, and then the talk moves on to the next. Take and look at do the same job. It differs from the "discuss a subject" meaning in purpose, since the case is examined as an instance of something larger, not as the topic itself.

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