kind
gb/kˈaɪnd/ us/kˈaɪnd/
A2
English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
caring and helpful
Wanting to help people and not hurt them.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is kind (to [someone])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'kind' with 'type' and use it incorrectly in describing personality. For example, 'He is a kind of man' instead of 'He is a kind man'.
Synonyms
compassionate (Stronger emphasis on empathy and deep concern for others.)
|
nice (More general term for pleasant behavior; less formal.)
Antonyms
unkind (Lacking sympathy or consideration for others.)
|
cruel (Actively causing pain or distress to others.)
Collocations
kind person
|kind gesture
|kind words
|kind heart
Themes
emotions
|character
|daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was kind to the new students and helped them find their classes.
- It was kind of him to bring soup when I was sick.
- They are always kind to animals.
- Her kind words made me feel better.
Learner examples
- My teacher is very kind.
- He is kind to his friends.
- The woman was kind to me.
- She is kind and helps people.
Noun
A2
entity
2
type or category
A group of things or people that are the same in some way.
Usage pattern:
a kind of [thing/person]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'of' in 'kind of', saying 'What kind music?' instead of 'What kind of music?'.
Synonyms
type (Most common equivalent; interchangeable in many contexts.)
|
category (More formal; often used in academic or technical contexts.)
Antonyms
individual (Refers to a single item or person, not a group.)
|
variety (Sometimes opposite when implying diversity instead of sameness.)
Collocations
different kinds
|same kind
|one of a kind
Themes
classification
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|science
Examples
- There are many kinds of fruit in the market.
- What kind of music do you like?
- This is the kind of weather I enjoy.
- They sell every kind of bread imaginable.
Learner examples
- I like this kind of food.
- There are many kinds of animals.
- What kind of books do you read?
- This is my favorite kind of game.
Grammar
Dictionary form
kind
IPA
GB/kˈaɪnd/
US/kˈaɪnd/
Syllables & stress
kind (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (kind)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: kind
- Comparative: kinder
- Superlative: kindest
Noun
- Base: kind
- Plural: kind, kinds
Word family
Expressions
in kind
1/ˈɪn kˈaɪnd/
fixed phrase
in the same way received
To do the same thing to someone that they did to you.
Examples
- They helped us, so we will return the favor in kind.
- He insulted her, and she responded in kind.
kind of
1/kˈaɪnd əv/
fixed phrase
informal
somewhat or slightly
Used to say something is partly true or true in a small way.
Examples
- I’m kind of tired after the long trip.
- It’s kind of hard to explain what happened.
one of a kind
1/wˈʌn əv ə kˈaɪnd/
idiom
Unique and special
Very special and different from all others.
Examples
- Her dress was truly one of a kind.
- Her handmade wedding dress was one of a kind.
- This opportunity is one of a kind.
- He’s one of a kind—no one else has his sense of humor.
one of a kind
2/wˈʌn əv ə kˈaɪnd/
idiom
completely unique person or thing
Someone or something that is special and different from all others.
Examples
- Her artwork is truly one of a kind.
- He’s one of a kind—there’s no one else like him.