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\ ˈkīnd 
\
\Definition of kind
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : 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
3a : 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
all kinds of
1 : many likes all kinds of sports
2 : plenty of
has all kinds of time
kind
adjectiveDefinition of kind (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : 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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for kind
Synonyms: Noun
- breed,
- class,
- description,
- feather,
- genre,
- ilk,
- kidney,
- like,
- manner,
- nature,
- order,
- sort,
- species,
- strain,
- stripe,
- type,
- variety
Synonyms: Adjective
Antonyms: Adjective
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun There is no evidence Tuesday's explosion was an attack of any kind.
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Beatrice Dupuy, Star Tribune, "NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week," 7 Aug. 2020 In such a universe there can be no reasoning from first principles, or indeed principles of any kind.
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Matthew Walther, TheWeek, "Hiroshima must never happen again," 6 Aug. 2020 As is typical in these cases, she's given no explanation or notice of any kind.
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Jason Parham, Wired, "TikTok and the Evolution of Digital Blackface," 4 Aug. 2020 As much as 17% of households don’t have a computer of any kind - and another 8% have access to a smartphone, but no other type of computer.
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al, "Alabama to give $100 million in internet vouchers for low-income students," 31 July 2020 Sharks of any kind rarely attack humans, and that’s been his experience.
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David Beard, National Geographic, "Longtime shark photographer urges caution, not hysteria, after fatal attack," 31 July 2020 Chapter leaders said they are bound by a policy from the national organization barring statements or endorsements of any kind.
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Dominick Mastrangelo, Washington Examiner, "Conservative college group threatened with boycott for refusing to pledge support for Black Lives Matter," 29 July 2020 The paper was published Wednesday by Nature Research and is the largest study of its kind according to its authors.
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Chronicle Staff, SFChronicle.com, "Coronavirus news from the Bay Area: July 8-9," 12 July 2020 Plus, the project that esparza and Cassils were proposing would be the first of its kind—Skytypers would need to cover 14,000 miles to get 80 different messages across the country.
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Mary Alice Miller, Wired, "How a Team of Artists and Skytypers Is Changing Activism," 10 July 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Since taking over as the university’s 17th president in July 2019, Gabel has built a reputation as a kind and collaborative leader.
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Ryan Faircloth, Star Tribune, "In first year, University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel leads school through health and social crises," 8 Aug. 2020 In fact, a 2015 Tufts University study showed children involved in Cub Scouts were significantly more kind and helpful than non-Scouts.
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Dallas News, "Making the world a better place: how the Boy Scouts of America address bullying concerns among Gen Z," 5 Aug. 2020 What a brave thing ... to create Edie, a young Black woman frequently in doubt, embarrassed, and unsure, who is passionate and perverse, kind and vengeful, depressed and exhilarated—in other words, human.
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Zadie Smith, Harper's BAZAAR, "Zadie Smith on Her Former Student Raven Leilani’s Debut Novel," 4 Aug. 2020 Be kind and considerate toward all, but be sure to maintain healthy boundaries and keep energy exchanges in balance.
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oregonlive, "Horoscope for August 3, 2020: Leo, soften your approach; Capricorn, don’t underestimate opponents," 3 Aug. 2020 Help comes in the form of a mysterious college engineering professor (Lucas), a preternaturally kind and generous sort who offers to fix her house and ends up changing her worldview.
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Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, "What to stream this weekend: World War II drama 'Summerland,' Katie Holmes' 'The Secret' movie," 31 July 2020 The complaints contrast sharply with the show’s upbeat tenor and DeGeneres’ own public demeanor and exhortations for people to be kind and caring.
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Fortune, "Ellen DeGeneres apologizes to talk show staff amid complaints of a difficult workplace," 31 July 2020 On her social media post, Meyers-Barer asked for the community to be kind.
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Matthias Gafni, SFChronicle.com, "‘Dad’s been shot’: Harrowing story of a Danville family’s tragic off-roading trip," 7 July 2020 Kelly Preston was enormously kind and unbelievably lovely.
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Karen Mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, "Kelly Preston's Daughter Ella Pays Tribute to Her 'Courageous, Strong, Beautiful and Loving' Mother," 13 July 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kind.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for kind
kind
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of kind
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a group of people or things that belong together or have some shared quality : a particular type or variety of person or thing
kind
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of kind (Entry 2 of 2)
: having or showing a gentle nature and a desire to help others : wanting and liking to do good things and to bring happiness to others
—used to say that something does not cause harm, is not harsh or unpleasant, etc. —usually + to
—used to make a formal request
See the full definition for kind in the English Language Learners Dictionary
kind
noun\ ˈkīnd \
\Kids Definition of kind
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a group of persons or things that belong together or have something in common
All kinds of people came. What kind of car does she drive?
kind
adjectivekinder; kindest
Kids Definition of kind (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : wanting or liking to do good and to bring happiness to others : considerate a kind woman
2 : showing or growing out of gentleness or goodness of heart
a kind act
kind
nounLegal Definition of kind
1 : a particular type, category, or class
properties of like kind — see also like-kind exchange
2a : 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
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Comments on kind
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Time Traveler for kind
The first known use of kind was before the 12th century
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