sort of

Related to sort of: short 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.

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

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
References in classic literature
As if fired by his own words, he took a sort of leap at the ledges of the rock above him, and scaled them with a sudden agility in startling contrast to his general lassitude.
At the corner stood a sort of decayed inn with the dingy sign of The Grapes.
Out of all this rather mysterious conversation there did emerge at last a sort of admission that one particular motor car, of a given description, had stopped before the inn about an hour before, and that an elderly man had alighted, requiring some mechanical assistance.
But I think I can manage to be a sort of fourth-rate burglar."
When they had circumvented the laurel hedge, they came out on a sort of terrace of turf, which fell by one green step to an oblong lawn like a bowling green.
It was a sort of tripod supporting a large disk like the round top of a table tipped sideways, and it was not until they had dropped on to the lawn and walked across to look at it that March realized that it was a target.
"I knew he was a sort of secretary and had to do with Burke's papers; but I never knew he.
Jenkins, a commonplace little man in loud tweeds, whom everybody else seemed to treat with a sort of affection, as if he were a baby.
"Why even Jink might hit that sort of bird," cried Sir Howard, hilariously slapping his host on the back.
The Man Who Knew Too Much
'"Why, Mr Moore," he begins, sort of soothing; when the small brother, who's been staring at Jerry, chips in.
The Man Upstairs and Other Stories
You know the sort of thing: `Press a Button--A Butler who Never Drinks.' `Turn a Handle--Ten Housemaids who Never Flirt.' You must have seen the advertisements.
"And the other man?" repeated Angus with a sort of obstinate quietude.
Even as he spoke, there was a sort of steely shriek in the street outside, and a small motor, driven at devilish speed, shot up to the door of the shop and stuck there.
The porter of the flats swears that no suspicious characters have been seen, and here he has pasted up a sort of dado on a public shop window, while the people in the shop--"
Both men, with a queer kind of impromptu fairness, took the same sort of formal farewell of the lady, and both jumped into the brisk little car.
The Innocence Of Father Brown