sort of

adverb
UK: /ˌsɔːt ˈɒv/
US: /ˌsɔːrt ˈʌv/

  1. Slightly or to some extent.

    1. I sort of understand it. [ ] [ ]
    2. I was sort of hoping to leave early, but it looks like that's not going to happen. [ ] [ ]

  2. Used to make a statement or question less direct or forceful.

    1. I sort of need help with this. [ ] [ ]
    2. Are you sort of suggesting that I'm not telling the truth about the situation? [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

kind of somewhat rather a little
sort of idiom

  1. Used to describe something that is difficult to describe exactly; something approximate.

    1. It was sort of blue-green color. [ ] [ ]
    2. That movie was sort of a comedy, but it had some serious moments too. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "sort of" in English means: Slightly or to some extent., Used to make a statement or question less direct or forceful..

The phonetic transcription of "sort of" is /ˌsɔːt ˈɒv/ in British English and /ˌsɔːrt ˈʌv/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "sort of": kind of, somewhat, rather, a little.

Example usage of "sort of": "I sort of understand it.". More examples on the page.