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

That kind of pay is unheard of, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

In terms of political continuance, the democratic process ultimately depends on a kind of shared witnessing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026

He’s a talker, but there is not much room for that kind of thing, in an informal way, in Europe.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

Schlossberg characterized himself and his campaign as “women-run and women-owned,” which objectively does not make sense but does inspire a kind of “OK, I guess” resignation toward light stupidity.

From Slate • Jun. 18, 2026

This was the hardest kind of person to place.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• rather