sort of

adverb

to some (great or small) extent (Freq. 10)

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it was rather cold

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the party was rather nice

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the knife is rather dull

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I rather regret that I cannot attend

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He's rather good at playing the cello

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he is kind of shy

• Syn: ↑rather, ↑kind of, ↑kinda

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In conversation, people use sort of or kind of in front of a noun to indicate that something has some of the features of a particular kind of thing.

There's a sort of ridge. Do you see?

I'm a kind of anarchist, I suppose.

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Some people also use sort of in front of adjectives, verbs, and other types of word. When sort of is used like this, it has very little meaning.

I'm sort of fond of him.

I've sort of heard of him, but I don't know who he is.

He was sort of banging his head against a window.

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Some American speakers use kind of in a similar way, especially in front of adjectives.

I felt kind of sorry for him.

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informal to some extent; in some way or other (used to convey inexactness or vagueness)

"Do you see what I mean?" "Sort of," answered Jean cautiously

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sort of

informal : to some small degree : slightly or somewhat

I feel sort of foolish.

I think he sort of likes me.

You look sort of like my cousin.

“Did you enjoy the movie?” “Sort of.”

The walls were (painted) sort of blue. = The walls were (painted in) sort of a blue color.

• • •

Main Entry: ↑sort

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sort of idiom

(informal)

1. to some extent but in a way that you cannot easily describe

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She sort of pretends that she doesn't really care.

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‘Do you understand?’ ‘Sort of.’

2. (also sort of like) (BrE, informal) used when you cannot think of a good word to use to describe sth, or what to say next

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We're sort of doing it the wrong way.

Main entry: ↑sort_idiom