deal with

phrasal verb transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	deal with
he/she/it	deals with
present participle	dealing with
past tense	dealt with
past participle	dealt with

1
(deal with something) to take action to do something, especially to solve a problem
The administration must now deal with the problem of high unemployment.
I spent the morning dealing with my e-mails.
be best dealt with (=most effectively):
This is a matter that would be best dealt with by the police.
Synonyms and related words
To try to deal with a problem or difficulty
man up
kick something into the long grass
deal with
1. 1a
  (deal with someone) to take the action that is necessary when you are involved with a particular person or type of person
  He believes young offenders should be dealt with quickly and harshly.
  Synonyms and related words
  To try to deal with a problem or difficulty
  man up
  kick something into the long grass
  deal with
Collocates
Nouns frequently used as objects of deal with
▪ complaint, crisis, emergency, enquiry, issue, matter, problem, question, situation
2
(deal with something) to accept and control a difficult emotional situation so that you can start to live a normal life again despite it
She’s dealing with her father’s death very well.
He’s not great at dealing with stress.
Synonyms and related words
To stop, control or not show emotions
manage
suppress
deal with
Collocates
Nouns frequently used as objects of deal with
▪ anxiety, emotion, feeling, grief, pain, pressure, stress
3
(deal with someone) to buy goods or services from someone, or to sell them to someone
We have dealt with the company for years.
Synonyms and related words
To buy and sell things
deal in
trade
barter
4
(deal with something) to be about a subject
Chapter 5 deals only briefly with this issue.
Synonyms and related words
To be connected with or related to something
link
surround
correspond
1. 4a
  to talk about something
  We’ll deal with the question of poverty in a moment.
  Synonyms and related words
  To discuss something
  discuss
  consider
  talk