deal with

phrasal verb·2 senses·particle with

Usefulness

Meanings

1

Take action to solve or manage a problem

Why “with”? A person faces a task or difficult situation and tries to manage it.

A shop worker helped Maya deal with a damaged parcel.
A shop worker helped Maya solve the parcel problem.
I need to deal with this leak today.
I need to take action to solve this leak today.
Leo dealt with the office projector problem while Maya protected the presentation files.
Leo took action to solve the office projector problem while Maya protected the presentation files.
2

Have a particular subject as the main topic

Why “with”? The content of a book, lesson, or report is connected to one subject.

The book deals with climate change.
The book has climate change as its main topic.
Today's lesson deals with online safety.
Today's lesson has online safety as its main topic.
Maya's office presentation dealt with a plan for faster deliveries.
Maya's office presentation had a plan for faster deliveries as its main topic.

Test yourself

A shop worker helped Maya deal with a damaged parcel. What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

Sink In app icon

Sink In — iOS & Android

Practice “deal with” in Sink In

Drill “deal with” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.

  • Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
  • Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
  • Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
1,300+ phrasal verbs26 particle patternsBuilt for B1–C2
Sink In daily spaced-repetition practice session