kinda

1. 1
   somewhatadverbcolloquial

   To some degree but not completely; somewhat.

   Her explanation kinda made sense, though I still had questions.

   The whole situation felt kinda strange to everyone in the room.

   UsageGoes right before an adjective, adverb or verb: kinda tired, kinda made sense. In formal writing, use somewhat.

   Similarsorta

   Note

   A pronunciation spelling that became a word: the "of" in kind of wears down in fast speech, and the spelling records what is actually said. It has been in print for over a century. Courtney Ryley Cooper writes "whistling to himself kinda soft" in Collier's in 1912, and P. G. Wodehouse's The Little Warrior (1920) has "kinda fresh."

2. 2
   type ofcontractioncolloquialabbreviationcontraction

   Contraction of kind of.

   What kinda person leaves a shopping cart in the middle of the road?

   She's not the kinda girl who backs down from a fight.

   UsageComes before a noun, often after what or that: what kinda music, that kinda food.

   Note

   Here kind is still a noun, and the phrase means "type of": what kinda music, no kinda drama. That is how to tell it from the hedging adverb. If "type of" fits in its place, the phrase refers to a type. Because the noun is still active, the contraction has a plural as well: kindsa, the reduced form of kinds of.

3. 3
   partly yesinterjectioncolloquial

   Used as a reply meaning partly yes and partly no; true in some respects but not in others.

   "Was the trip worth it?" "Kinda. The views were stunning, but the hotel was awful."

   "Do you agree with the new policy?" "Kinda, though I think it goes too far in places."

   UsageOften followed by a short reason saying which part is true; kinda, yeah leans toward yes.

Showing meanings only. Show all 4