What does "sorted" mean in British English?

Arranged, fixed, dealt with, or under control. "It's sorted" means "it's been taken care of." "Are you sorted?" means "do you have everything you need?" or "is everything OK with you?" The word comes from the verb "to sort," meaning to organise or put in order, and over time the British began using "sorted" on its own to describe anything that has been settled or resolved.

It's a short, positive, flexible word that can close a conversation, confirm an arrangement, or ask about someone's wellbeing. It does a lot of work. Instead of a whole sentence like "Yes, I have made all the arrangements and everything is fine," a Brit can simply say "Sorted." That efficiency is exactly why you hear it so often.

• "Don't worry, it's all sorted." (It's been dealt with)
• "Are you sorted for the weekend?" (Have you made plans / do you have what you need?)
• "I'll get it sorted." (I'll fix/arrange it)
• "Right, that's sorted then." (Confirmation that something is resolved)
• "Have you sorted out the tickets yet?" (Have you organised them?)
• "Cheers, that's me sorted." (Thanks, I now have everything I need)

"She's well sorted" can mean someone has their life together, is organised, or is generally competent and stable. This use is more informal. You might also hear "He's got himself sorted" to mean someone has recently put their life in order, perhaps after a difficult period.

In a casual setting between friends, "sorted" is warm and breezy, often said with a nod or a thumbs up. In a British workplace it still appears frequently, though usually in the fuller form "sorted out," as in "I've sorted out the meeting room" or "Leave it with me, I'll get it sorted." It is friendly enough for most offices but a touch too relaxed for very formal writing such as a contract or an official email to a client.

Learners sometimes say "I am sorted the problem," treating it like a normal past tense verb. The problem here is a mixed structure. Say either "I sorted the problem out" (active verb) or "The problem is sorted" (adjective describing the result). Do not combine "am" with the plain past. Another slip is overusing it in formal writing, where "arranged" or "resolved" reads better.

Picture your laundry being "sorted" into neat piles. Once everything is in its proper place, it is sorted. Now stretch that image to any situation, a plan, a problem, a person, that has been tidied up and put where it should be. If it is in order, it is sorted.

• "It's done" / "It's handled" - more direct
• "It's arranged" - formal version
• "Everything's in order" - formal
• "We're all set" - American English equivalent

You may hear the fuller phrasal verb "to sort someone out," which usually means to help them, as in "Don't worry, I'll sort you out with a spare charger." Be careful, though, because in an aggressive tone "I'll sort you out" can be a threat, meaning to deal with someone forcefully. Context and tone tell you which meaning applies. A friendly voice offering help is very different from a raised voice in an argument.

Informal British English. Very common in everyday speech. Americans would understand it but use "all set" or "taken care of" instead. It is one of those small words that instantly makes your English sound more natural and local once you start using it with confidence.