kind

[ kahynd ]

See synonyms for: kind kinder kindest kinds on Thesaurus.com

adjective,kind·er, kind·est.

of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person: a kind and loving person.
having, showing, or proceeding from benevolence: kind words.

indulgent, considerate, or helpful; humane (often followed by to): to be kind to animals.
mild; gentle; clement: kind weather.
British Dialect. loving; affectionate.

Origin of kind

First recorded before 900; Middle English kind(e) “natural, well-disposed,” Old English gecynde “natural;” see origin at genial¹, kind²

synonym study For kind

1. 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 words for kind

1	mild, benign, benignant, gentle, tender, compassionate

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Opposites for kind

cruel

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Words Nearby kind

Other definitions for kind (2 of 2)

kind²

[ kahynd ]

noun

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.
nature or character as determining likeness or difference between things: These differ in degree rather than in kind.

a person or thing as being of a particular character or class: He is a strange kind of hero.
a more or less adequate example of something; sort: The vines formed a kind of roof.
Archaic.
- the nature, or natural disposition or character.
- manner; form.
Obsolete. gender; sex.

Origin of kind

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

usage note For kind

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.

Other words for kind

1	order, genus, species; breed; set

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Words that may be confused with kind

kind , sort, type

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use kind in a sentence

After all, he met his husband of 30 years on a return trip to one of his homeland’s villages, the kind of place he once longed to escape.
When Dead Beer Walks: A Dane in Vietnam Turns Strange Brew Into Craft Gin | Eugene Robinson | February 12, 2021 | Ozy
Right away we kind of liked to work with each other, and that was always a war.
As Kamaru Usman edges toward UFC greatness, his former teammate wants to stop him | Glynn A. Hill | February 12, 2021 | Washington Post
I’m kind of just like wake up, see what our team services guy … has sent us for that day and then just go for it.
For first time in three weeks, Capitals could be at full strength Sunday | Samantha Pell | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post
He couldn’t imagine moving in and not having some kind of symbol of their relationship — maybe a ring or something else if she didn’t want to get married.
Date Lab: One of our setups is still going strong two years later. We caught up with Willie and Renee for an update. | Marin Cogan | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post
A woman who hears it thinks of a specific kind of danger, and a man who says it thinks of that danger, too.
Capitol rioters searched for Nancy Pelosi in a way that should make every woman’s skin crawl | Monica Hesse | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post

Submission is less a novel of ideas than a political book, and of the most subversive kind.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President | Pierre Assouline | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
His discourse is now more detailed: submission, which is the meaning of islam in Arabic, gives him a kind of enjoyment.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President | Pierre Assouline | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Patrick Klugman, the deputy mayor of Paris, said: “We are living our kind of 9/11,” he said.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers | Nico Hines | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
When I was in Holland, this is the kind of thing people feared.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive | Ayaan Hirsi Ali | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
He appeared to understand however belatedly that he was in the presence of another kind of greatness.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown | Michael Daly | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
kind of a reception-room in there—guess I know a reception-room from a hole in the wall.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17) | Various
The relation existing between the balmy plant and the commerce of the world is of the strongest kind.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
"She used to be so well—so bright," said Angela, who also appeared to have the desire to say something kind and comfortable.
Confidence | Henry James
What he has done in any one species or distinct kind of writing would have been sufficient to have acquired him a great name.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
I tell you, madam, most distinctly and emphatically, that it is bread pudding and the meanest kind at that.'
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various

British Dictionary definitions for kind (1 of 2)

kind¹

/ (kaɪnd) /

adjective

having a friendly or generous nature or attitude
helpful to others or to another: a kind deed

considerate or humane
cordial; courteous (esp in the phrase kind regards)
pleasant; agreeable; mild: a kind climate
informal beneficial or not harmful: a detergent that is kind to the hands
archaic loving

Origin of kind

Old English gecynde natural, native; see kind ²

British Dictionary definitions for kind (2 of 2)

kind²

/ (kaɪnd) /

noun

a class or group having characteristics in common; sort; type: two of a kind; what kind of creature?
an instance or example of a class or group, esp a rudimentary one: heating of a kind

essential nature or character: the difference is one of kind rather than degree
archaic gender or sex
archaic nature; the natural order
in kind
- (of payment) in goods or produce rather than in money
- with something of the same sort: to return an insult in kind
kind of informal
- (adverb) somewhat; rather: kind of tired
- (sentence substitute) used to express reservation or qualified assent: I figured it out. Kind of

Origin of kind

Old English gecynd nature; compare Old English cyn kin, Gothic kuni race, Old High German kikunt, Latin gens

usage For kind

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with kind

kind

In addition to the idiom beginning with kind

kind of

also see:

all kinds of
in kind
nothing of the kind
of a kind
two of a kind

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