When you deal with something or someone that needs attention, you give your attention to them, and often solve a problem or make a decision concerning them.
...the way that building societies deal with complaints. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
In dealing with suicidal youngsters, our aims should be clear. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
The President said the agreement would allow other vital problems to be dealt with. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
2. phrasal verb
If you deal with an unpleasant emotion or an emotionally difficult situation, you recognize it, and remain calm and in control of yourself in spite of it.
She saw a psychiatrist who used hypnotism to help her deal with her fear. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
He was able to deal with his captivity by keeping a journal. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
3. phrasal verb
If a book, speech, or film deals with a particular thing, it has that thing as its subject or is concerned with it.
...the parts of his book which deal with contemporary Paris. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
4. phrasal verb
If you deal with a particular person or organization, you have business relations with them.
When I worked in Florida I dealt with British people all the time. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
He's a hard man to deal with. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
See full dictionary entry for deal
deal with in British English
verb(tr, adverb)
1.
to take action on
to deal with each problem in turn
2.
to punish
the headmaster will deal with the culprit
3.
to be concerned with
the book deals with Dutch art
4.
to conduct oneself (towards others), esp with regard to fairness
he can be relied on to deal fairly with everyone
5.
to do business with
the firm deals with many overseas suppliers
Examples of 'deal with' in a sentence
deal with
Her mind had not had time to deal with the wider implications of all that sadistic megalomania trapped inside the woman who ruled Medalon.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
In a time of greater openness, somebody still has to get into the sewer to deal with the rats.
Mark Burnell CHAMELEON (2002)
He's negotiating a deal with American publishers for his memoirs.
Mark Burnell CHAMELEON (2002)
In other languages
deal with
British English: deal with /diːl wɪð/ VERB
When you deal with a situation or problem, you do what is necessary to achieve the result you want.
How do you deal with an uninvited guest?
American English: deal with
Arabic: يَتَعَامَلُ مَعَ
Brazilian Portuguese: lidar com
Chinese: 处理
Croatian: nositi se
Czech: řešit
Danish: tage sig af
Dutch: aanpakken
European Spanish: ocuparse de
Finnish: käsitellä
French: s’occuper de régler
German: kümmern um (sich)
Greek: αντιμετωπίζω
Italian: affrontare
Japanese: 扱う
Korean: 다루다
Norwegian: handle med
Polish: poradzić sobie z
European Portuguese: lidar com
Romanian: a se ocupa de
Russian: справляться с
Latin American Spanish: ocuparse de
Swedish: hantera
Thai: จัดการ
Turkish: ilgilenmek
Ukrainian: мати справу з
Vietnamese: xử lý
Chinese translation of 'deal with'
deal with
vt fus
[criminal, wrongdoer etc]惩(懲)处(處) (chéngchǔ)
⇒ Criminals should be dealt with severely.罪犯应该被严厉惩处。 (Zuìfàn yīnggāi bèi yánlì chéngchǔ.)