kind of/sort of

kind of

Somewhat; partially. I'm happy that it's summertime, but I'm still kind of sad that school is over. A: "Are you feeling better?" B: "Kind of. My throat isn't sore anymore, but I'm still pretty congested."
See also: kind, of

sort of

Somewhat; partially; a little. I'm happy that it's summertime, but I'm still sort of sad that school is over. A: "Are you feeling better?" B: "Sort of. My throat isn't sore anymore but I'm still congested."
See also: of, sort
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sort of something

 and kind of something
almost something; somewhat; somehow. Isn't it sort of cold out? That was kind of a stupid thing to do, wasn't it?
See also: of, sort

sort of

 and kind of
Yes, but only to a small degree. Bob: Do you like what you're doing in school? Alice: Kind of. Henry: What do you think about all these new laws? Do they worry you? John: Sort of.
See also: of, sort
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

kind of

Also, sort of. Rather, somewhat, as in I'm kind of hungry, or The bird looked sort of like a sparrow. [Colloquial; c. 1800] This usage should not be confused with a kind of or a sort of, which are much older and refer to a borderline member of a given category (as in a kind of a shelter or a sort of a bluish color). Shakespeare had this usage in Two Gentlemen of Verona (3:1): "My master is a kind of a knave." Also see of a kind.
See also: kind, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

ˈkind of/ˈsort of

(informal) used with adjectives, adverbs and verbs when something is difficult to describe or when the word you use is not exactly what you mean: She kind of smiled at me. My new dress is sort of green. He said it sort of nervously.
These phrases are sometimes written or spoken as kinda or sorta.
See also: kind, of, sort
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

kind of

Informal
Rather; somewhat: I'm kind of hungry.
See also: kind, of

sort of

Informal
Somewhat; rather: "Gambling and prostitution ... have been prohibited, but only sort of" (George F. Will).
See also: of, sort
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • be more than (something)
  • be more than glad, ready, etc.
  • (the) odds are against (something)
  • be at a disadvantage
  • at a disadvantage
  • address (one's) comments to (someone or something)
  • address comments or remarks to
  • address (one's) remarks to (someone or something)
  • be in it for
  • away from it all