kind
1 Americanadjective
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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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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:
Julie Su, Mamdani’s deputy mayor for economic justice, referenced Shorris’s experience going after tax cheats as an example of the kind of work that fits into the mayor’s agenda for economic justice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
"Obviously we can't talk about combining companies and that kind of thing on an earnings call. It's got to be done with the appropriate process."
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
At the time Vice Mayor Melissa Blaustein said the city was “so lucky” to have someone of Forbes’ “caliber, experience, connections, network, and also kind personality and demeanor.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
“The Exorcist” was one of the first major films of its kind.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
The microscope became a new kind of "high-tech" entertainment for cultured gentlemen, and in 1665 an Englishman named Robert Hooke came up with a microscopic "hit."
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
That’s why scientists in Arizona are strapping volunteers into harnesses and lowering them onto wet floors: to find what kinds of surfaces are safest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
More studies are needed to compare different kinds of caffeinated coffee with tea, soda, energy drinks and energy shots, and foods.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
There are endless kinds, each one different depending on where it was drilled, the same way different fruits have different flavors and nutrients.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
That had all kinds of ramifications, starting with the State Department’s refusal to grant visas to more than a dozen members of Iran’s official delegation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
The ground was littered with branches of all kinds.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
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
A breakthrough drug for ovarian cancer that is kinder on the body and extends lives is now available on the NHS.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
Would I emerge kinder, more resilient—or plagued with unexpected self-consciousness about one of the few areas of my life for which I haven’t felt self-conscious?
From Slate ● May 10, 2026
He certainly managed differently than the more mercurial Jobs, setting a kinder, gentler tone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
They began to whisper kinder and more hopeful words about the king, and those words traveled with him as he carried on his tour.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
"I know heaven has the sweetest kindest girl. We will miss you terribly."
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 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
The owner was the kindest man I had ever met and his son followed in his footsteps.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
Palmer worked for Seymour at the time and saw his “regular guy” boss give “one of the kindest and most gracious concession speeches I’ve ever heard.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
“I mean the bravest, kindest human of us,” Danny amended, to spare the prince’s feelings.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
