Meaning & use
kind of
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Meanings
adverbinformal
Used before a word to make it weaker or less exact, meaning slightly or in some way.
Grammar: Comes before an adjective, verb, or noun: kind of tired, kind of like it.
Patterns
- kind of + adjective
- kind of + verb
- kind of + noun
I'm kind of tired, so I'll go home early.
She kind of smiled but didn't say anything.
It was kind of strange that nobody called.
phrasefixed phrase
Used before a noun to show that the noun is one type among several.
Grammar: Here kind is a noun and of links it to the type: a kind of bird.
Patterns
- a kind of something
- what kind of something
- this kind of something
A robin is a kind of bird.
What kind of music do you like?
This kind of problem takes time to fix.
adverbinformal
Used when you are not sure of the right word, so you give an approximate one.
Grammar: Often followed by like: it was kind of like a tent.
Patterns
- kind of like something
It's kind of like a small tent, but rounder.
He's kind of like a manager, but without the title.
Common combinations
- kind of tired
- I'm kind of tired after that long walk.
- kind of funny
- The whole situation was kind of funny.
- a kind of
- A whale is a kind of mammal, not a fish.
- what kind of
- What kind of car does she drive?
- kind of like
- The taste is kind of like honey.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sort of
- Very close in meaning and also informal; it is used in the same places, though some speakers prefer it in British English.
- a bit
- Means slightly and usually goes with adjectives; it does not work before a noun the way 'a kind of' does.
- somewhat
- Has the same weakening meaning but sounds formal and is rare in everyday speech.
Word family
Commonly confused: kind of or kind? kind of or kinds of?
kind of vs kind
As a noun, 'kind' means a type; as an adjective, it means caring. 'Kind of' is a separate phrase that weakens what follows.
kind of vs kinds of
The plural form is used with plural nouns: 'what kinds of jobs'. Do not say 'kind of jobs' when you mean several types.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'kind of' correctly to make the meaning weaker?
Choose one answer.
'Kind of' before an adjective like 'boring' softens the meaning, so option 2 fits. Option 1 wrongly uses it before a job title, where 'kind of a' suggests she is not really a doctor, which is not the intended meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “kind of”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.