kind
1 Americanadjective
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kinder,
comparative
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kindest
superlative
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of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person.
a kind and loving person.
- Antonyms:
- cruel
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having, showing, or proceeding from benevolence.
kind words.
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indulgent, considerate, or helpful; humane (often followed byto ).
to be kind to animals.
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kind weather.
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British Dialect. loving; affectionate.
noun
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kinds
plural
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a class or group of individual objects, people, animals, etc., of the same nature or character, or classified together because they have traits in common; category.
Our dog is the same kind as theirs.
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nature or character as determining likeness or difference between things.
These differ in degree rather than in kind.
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a person or thing as being of a particular character or class.
He is a strange kind of hero.
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a more or less adequate example of something; sort.
The vines formed a kind of roof.
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Archaic.
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the nature, or natural disposition or character.
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manner; form.
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Obsolete. gender; sex.
idioms
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in kind,
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in something of the same kind or in the same way as that received or borne.
They will be repaid in kind for their rudeness.
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in goods, commodities, or services rather than money.
In colonial times, payment was often made in kind.
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kind of, to some extent; somewhat; rather.
The room was kind of dark.
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of a kind, of the same class, nature, character, etc..
They are two of a kind.
noun
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a class or group having characteristics in common; sort; type
two of a kind
what kind of creature?
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an instance or example of a class or group, esp a rudimentary one
heating of a kind
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essential nature or character
the difference is one of kind rather than degree
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archaic gender or sex
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archaic nature; the natural order
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(of payment) in goods or produce rather than in money
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with something of the same sort
to return an insult in kind
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informal
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(adverb) somewhat; rather
kind of tired
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(sentence substitute) used to express reservation or qualified assent
I figured it out. Kind of
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adjective
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having a friendly or generous nature or attitude
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helpful to others or to another
a kind deed
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considerate or humane
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cordial; courteous (esp in the phrase kind regards )
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pleasant; agreeable; mild
a kind climate
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informal beneficial or not harmful
a detergent that is kind to the hands
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archaic loving
Usage
The phrase these (or those ) kind of, followed by a plural noun ( these kind of flowers; those kind of shoes ) is frequently condemned as ungrammatical because it is said to combine a plural demonstrative ( these; those ) with a singular noun, kind. Historically, kind is an unchanged or unmarked plural noun like deer, folk, sheep, and swine, and the construction these kind of is an old one, occurring in the writings of Shakespeare, Swift, Jane Austen, and, in modern times, Jimmy Carter and Winston Churchill. Kind has also developed the plural kinds, evidently because of the feeling that the old pattern was incorrect. These kind of nevertheless persists in use, especially in less formal speech and writing. In edited, more formal prose, this kind of and these kinds of are more common. Sort of has been influenced by the use of kind as an unchanged plural: these sort of books. This construction too is often considered incorrect and appears mainly in less formal speech and writing. Kind (or sort ) of as an adverbial modifier meaning “somewhat” occurs in informal speech and writing: Sales have been kind (or sort ) of slow these last few weeks.
The mixture of plural and singular constructions, although often used informally with kind and sort , should be avoided in serious writing: children enjoy those kinds (not those kind ) of stories; these sorts (not these sort ) of distinctions are becoming blurred
Synonym Usage
Kind, gracious, kindhearted, kindly imply a sympathetic attitude toward others, and a willingness to do good or give pleasure. Kind implies a deep-seated characteristic shown either habitually or on occasion by considerate behavior: a kind father. Gracious often refers to kindness from a superior or older person to a subordinate, an inferior, a child, etc.: a gracious monarch. Kindhearted implies an emotionally sympathetic nature, sometimes easily imposed upon: a kindhearted old woman. Kindly, a mild word, refers usually to general disposition, appearance, manner, etc.: a kindly face.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of kind1
First recorded before 900; Middle English kind(e) “natural, well-disposed,” Old English gecynde “natural;” see origin at genial 1, kind 2
Origin of kind2
First recorded before 900; Middle English kinde, Old English gecynd “nature, race, origin”; cognate with Old Norse kyndi, Old High German kikunt, Latin gēns (genitive gentis ); see kin
Explanation
A helpful and considerate nature can be described as kind. It is kind of someone to volunteer to rake their elderly neighbor's leaves in the fall. As a noun, kind refers to the variety or specific type of something. The adjective kind also describes showing sympathy or giving comfort. If someone's feelings are hurt, a kind word can go a long way to making that person feel better. When kind means "type," you might talk about a kind of cake — chocolate or vanilla — or a kind of person who likes to live alone. If you are kind of interested in something, you are only partially interested in it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"It can look about a second, or so, ahead into the future for 20,000 different kind of combinations of things that might happen," Storey explains.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
“If you’re a trader, then your kind of USP is that you are the master of the physical barrel,” said Tom Reed, head of oil-markets analysis at Argus Media.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
“There’s a certain old-school kind of toughness, there’s a professionalism and a maturity level with this kid that’s pretty unique for his age,” Riley said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
One time, both mother and daughter ordered the most expensive dessert at about $16 each only to eat half of one and left the other — that kind of waste.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
In 1850, die Boston doctors know very little about any kind of cell, even though the cell revolution is getting under way in Germany, thanks to Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Meink didn’t say, but the range can be inferred from published accounts about the kinds of space-control weapons that Russia or China has launched and tested.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Soon Battle Creek was known as Cereal City, with more than 100 small producers of various kinds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
It was a way to make both kinds of products for different customers in different places.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
"It's made an enormous difference for people on all kinds of levels, with all kinds of perhaps physical restrictions on how they can move."
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
She would talk in a whisper, and go through all kinds of motions.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
In the letter, the group urged Thomas to "let fish off the hook and transform the Aberaeron Mackerel Fiesta into a kinder event".
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The "Country Roads" appeal lies in the way it conveys "a kinder, simpler era with less conflict and division," said Doug Hartmann, a sociology professor at the University of Minnesota.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
The practice involves less intensive growing methods to be kinder to the environment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
The Actor Awards have been kinder: Bateman won three lead actor statuettes for “Ozark.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
“I wish you could be kinder to her.”
From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
Fashion designer Donatella Versace said: "The world has lost one of the kindest and most generous of souls, the greatest of story tellers and a true legend of music."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
His “Peaky Blinders” co-star Cillian Murphy remembered Neill as “one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors,” while Nicole Kidman celebrated Neill as “one of the greats.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Inevitable as Funches’ dismissal was, witnessing the quiet camaraderie blossom between him and Rausch was one of the kindest, warmest subplots of an especially ruthless season.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
"Marcus was one of a kind with the kindest of hearts who would help anyone out he could," they said.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
But then Viola, who is the kindest of the bunch, whispered, “We missed you too, Ida B.”
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
