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.

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Example Sentences

Compared to this week it will feel most noticeably warmer in eastern areas of England and eastern Scotland where there will not be that cold wind off the North Sea.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2024

The wind appeared to affect just one 3-point shot as the six-level conning tower and the scoreboard blocked most of the wind off the Pacific Ocean.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2022

Vander Meer noted that the shore pines here grow in contorted shapes because of the chilly wind off the water.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2022

“We’re little people, that’s my livelihood over there,” Ms. Declerck said in December while buffeted by the wind off Lake Erie.

From New York Times • Jan. 11, 2022

The wind off the lake is making the cold, like, a thousand times worse.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• rather