kind of

Idioms  

1. Also, sort of. Rather, somewhat, as in I'm kind of hungry, or The bird looked sort of like a sparrow. [Colloquial; c. 1800] This usage should not be confused with a kind of or a sort of, which are much older and refer to a borderline member of a given category (as in a kind of a shelter or a sort of a bluish color). Shakespeare had this usage in Two Gentlemen of Verona (3:1): “My master is a kind of a knave.” Also see of a kind.

---

Example Sentences

The movie is called “Yes” but it’s not the kind of yes that comes after someone offers you another cupcake.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

He added: "I was in a coma for a huge length of time, and you wake up, and your whole life is changed. Rugby kind of brought me back into the world again."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

In this kind of environment, it’s even more important to have the necessary funds on hand so you don’t have to pass on another property.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, thinks the chances of “some kind of ground operation” are high, at 85%, describing the possibility as “horrific.”

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

But Russell was no lady browsing vases for her mantel, and I wasn’t used to this kind of attention from a boy.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• rather