type 1 of 2

Definition of typenext

type

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word type distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of type are character, description, kind, nature, and sort. While all these words 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

When can character be used instead of type?

While the synonyms character and type are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

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

When is it sensible to use description instead of type?

The words description and type can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When might kind be a better fit than type?

The synonyms kind and type are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace type?

Although the words nature and type have much in common, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is sort a more appropriate choice than type?

While in some cases nearly identical to type, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of type
Verb
There are modifier and media keys for both Windows and macOS users, plus each key can be customized for anyone who likes to set up their keyboard for maximum productivity and typing comfort. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026 Search by address Just type your address into the box below to see your snowfall total and a map of nearby measurements. Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 25 Jan. 2026 Those who type the provided address into their GPS will find themselves on the backside of the Mission Farms shopping center. Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2026 Today, a Luddite is your grandparent who keeps looking at the screen rather than the camera when on Zoom, the Boomer who types in all-capital letters, the grouchy man who refuses to get a smart phone, the professor spewing invective against Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for type
Recent Examples of Synonyms for type
Noun
  • The experiment is that AI is being made available nationally and globally, which is purported to provide mental health guidance of one kind or another.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • New York City nurses on strike headed back to the bargaining table Thursday with hospital administrators to try to bring an end to the city's biggest walkout of its kind in decades.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The cameras can be set up using USB or a single category cable using the optional Rally AI Camera Extension Kit.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • While some categories have specific eligibility requirements, all films need to meet a baseline set of criteria to be considered.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Researchers classified Claude interactions by purpose — work, education, personal use — and then explored how AI was being deployed within work tasks.
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • They're classified as hexapods and are more closely related to crustaceans rather than insects, despite their appearance.
    Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • My niece reminded me how seamlessly packing cubes can take an overstuffed suitcase and transform it into an easy-to-sort home for my many essentials.
    Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Advertisement The city also set up an informational hotline of sorts—residents could stay up-to-date on the storm and the city’s response by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Joseph’s most recent work in Denver, however, happens to be some of the most impressive as the unit ranked second in total defense, third in scoring and in the top-ten against both the run and pass.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The top three were ranked good, better, and best after the coach's signature catchphrase.
    Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Combs collects his milestone twenty-fifth top 10 success on the Country Streaming Songs chart, and just his fifth on the all-genre Streaming Songs tally.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Addiction, and the opioid crisis, has been well-documented on screen but Meeks and his Union County team bring something fresh to the genre courtesy of the real-life participants of the Ohio drug court and its presiding judge, all of whom appear throughout.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • This pattern is re-enforced by the chart (below) of the squad grouped by positions.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
  • While the survey grouped women of color together, prior research shows distinct experiences across racial and ethnic groups.
    Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Their solid color range has a lovely mix of earthy hues, and the brand has been releasing more and more patterns, from stripes to florals.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The shoe is thin, lightweight, breathable, and chic, even featuring a shiny silver stripe that adds a bit of personality.
    Kate Tully Ellsworth, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Type.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/type. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

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