kind

1 of 2

noun

ˈkīnd 

1

a

: a group united by common traits or interests : category

b

: a specific or recognized variety

what kind of car do you drive

c

: a doubtful or barely admissible member of a category

a kind of gray

2

: fundamental nature or quality : essence

a difference in degree but not in kind

3

a

: goods or commodities as distinguished from money

payment in kind

b

: the equivalent of what has been offered or received

promised to return the favor in kind

4

a

archaic : nature

b

archaic : family, lineage

5

archaic : manner

kind

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of a sympathetic or helpful nature

was helped by a kind neighbor

They were very kind to us.

b

: of a forbearing nature : gentle

kind treatment of animals

c

: arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance

a kind act

a kind smile

2

: of a kind to give pleasure or relief

cooled by a kind breeze

3

chiefly dialectal : affectionate, loving

Phrases

all kinds of

1

: many

likes all kinds of sports

2

: plenty of

has all kinds of time

Synonyms

Noun

• breed
• class
• description
• feather
• genre
• ilk
• kidney
• like
• manner
• nature
• order
• sort
• species
• strain
• stripe
• type
• variety

Adjective

• attentive
• considerate
• solicitous
• thoughtful

Choose the Right Synonym for kind

type, kind, sort, nature, description, character mean a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities.

type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Examples of kind in a Sentence

Noun

hawks and other birds of that kind

In this city, you'll find many kinds of people.

I like to try different kinds of food.

She described the color as a kind of red.

I think he's an accountant, financial adviser, or something of that kind.

Adjective

A kind old woman took the cat in and nursed it back to health.

It was very kind of you to show me the way.

Thank you for your kind words.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The ruling is undoubtedly the most high profile for Georgia's typically under-the-radar appeals court, which is among the busiest of its kind in the country. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Four dams were torn down—the largest undertaking of its kind in U.S. history—to restore the Klamath River in California and Oregon to its historic flow. —Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Earlier this month the singer was spotted cheering on her beau with her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, and was praised for her kind interaction with fans. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Others shared similar heartwarming stories of kind ways their postal workers went out of their way to cleverly deliver presents in boxes that could’ve ruined holiday surprises. —Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English kinde, from Old English cynd; akin to Old English cynn kin

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing kind

• anything of the kind
• be kind enough
• be so kind
• five of a kind
• four of a kind
• in-kind
• kind of
• nothing of the kind
• of one kind/sort/type or another
• one of a kind
• one's kind of
• some kind/sort/type of
• something/anything of the kind
• three of a kind
• two of a kind

Kids Definition

kind

1 of 2 noun

ˈkīnd 

1

a

: a group united by common traits or interests : category

hawks and other birds of their kind

b

: variety sense 3a

all kinds of people

what kind of car do you have

c

: one that is barely a member of a category

a kind of gray

2

: essential quality or character

differences in kind

3

a

: goods as distinguished from money

payment in kind rather than in cash

b

: something equal to what has been offered or received

returned the favor in kind

kind

2 of 2 adjective

1

: wanting and liking to do good and to bring happiness to others

2

: showing or growing out of gentleness or goodness of heart

a kind act

Legal Definition

kind

noun

1

: a particular type, category, or class

properties of like kind

see also like-kind exchange

2

a

: an unconverted form

a partition of property in kind

broadly : a form other than money

forbid a bribe in cash or in kind

see also in-kind

b

: the equivalent in value

repay a loan in kind