INDEX:
1. kind
2. kind to people who have problems or difficulties
3. to treat someone very kindly or too kindly
RELATED WORDS
a kind of person or thing : ↑ TYPE
kind and generous : ↑ GENEROUS/NOT GENEROUS
be kind to someone to make them feel better : ↑ COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER
see also
↑ NICE
↑ FRIENDLY
↑ SELFISH/NOT SELFISH
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1. kind
▷ kind /kaɪnd/ [adjective]
someone who is kind tries to help people and make them happy or comfortable, and shows that they care about them :
▪ Everyone loved Mary. She was the kindest, most generous person in the world.
kind to
▪ He’s a good brother. He’s always been kind to me.
it is kind of somebody (to do something)
▪ ‘Karen gave me a lift to the station.’ ‘That was kind of her.’
kindly [adverb]
▪ Joan very kindly offered to wash the dishes.
▷ kindness /ˈkaɪndnɪs, ˈkaɪndnəs/ [uncountable noun]
kind behaviour :
▪ What this child needs is a little love and kindness.
▪ She was touched by this simple act of kindness.
kindness to
▪ I shall never forget her kindness to me.
▷ nice /naɪs/ [adjective] especially spoken
someone who is nice is kind and friendly, and often helpful :
▪ I’ve got a nice boss, and the pay’s good.
▪ ‘She offered to pay for everything.’ ‘That was a nice gesture.’
nice to
▪ Why can’t they just be nice to each other?
it is nice of somebody (to do something)
▪ It was nice of them to invite us.
▷ considerate/thoughtful /kənˈsɪd ə rət, ˈθɔːtʃ ə l/ [adjective]
someone who is considerate or thoughtful thinks about other people’s feelings and tries to do things that will make them happy or comfortable :
▪ Louis was always considerate towards other people.
it is considerate/thoughtful of somebody (to do something)
▪ It was considerate of them to warn us that they might be late.
▪ ‘I didn’t phone this afternoon. I thought you might be resting.’ ‘That was very thoughtful of you.’
consideration /kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
▪ I could not believe that he could show such little consideration for others.
▷ good /gʊd/ [adjective not before noun]
if you are good to someone, especially someone who is old, young, sick etc, you are kind to them and give them what they need :
good to
▪ My stepfather’s always been very good to me and treated me like one of his own children.
it is good of somebody (to do something)
▪ It’s good of you to see me at such short notice.
▷ gentle /ˈdʒentl/ [adjective]
someone who is gentle is nice and kind, and is never angry or violent :
▪ My father was a professional boxer, but at home with the family he was always quiet and gentle.
▪ a sweet, gentle girl who wouldn’t hurt a fly
▷ somebody’s heart is in the right place / somebodyˈs ˌhɑːʳt ɪz ɪn ðə ˌraɪt ˈpleɪs/
if you say that someone’s heart is in the right place, you mean that they do not always do the right thing, but they are basically a good, kind person :
▪ He can be rude and bad-tempered sometimes, but his heart’s in the right place.
2. kind to people who have problems or difficulties
▷ sympathetic /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk◂/ [adjective]
if someone is sympathetic when you are having problems, they say kind things to you and show that they feel sad about your situation :
▪ Why don’t you talk to Elizabeth? She’s always sympathetic.
▪ My friends were extremely sympathetic when they heard I’d lost my job.
▪ Noticing my embarrassment, the teacher gave me a sympathetic smile.
sympathetically [adverb]
▪ She listened sympathetically to all our complaints.
▷ understanding /ˌʌndəʳˈstændɪŋ/ [adjective]
an understanding person is kind and patient when someone has a problem, and does not get angry with them or criticize them :
▪ I’m sorry I’ve been so bad-tempered lately. Anyway, thank you for being so understanding.
▪ Irene often has to take time off work. Fortunately she has a very understanding boss.
▷ compassionate /kəmˈpæʃ ə nɪt, kəmˈpæʃ ə nət/ [adjective]
someone who is compassionate wants to help people who are suffering or having problems :
▪ Alice was a compassionate woman who wanted to save children from violence and poverty.
▪ We must try to create a more caring, more compassionate society.
compassionately [adverb]
▪ Political refugees need our protection and we urge the government to view their plight more compassionately.
▷ caring /ˈke ə rɪŋ/ [adjective]
loving and sympathetic, especially so that you want to help people close to you when they are in trouble :
▪ Sharon was lucky to have such caring parents at a time when she needed help.
▪ It is possible for men to be tough and, at the same time, caring and sensitive.
▷ kind-hearted /ˌkaɪnd ˈhɑːʳtə̇d◂/ [adjective]
someone who is kind-hearted has a kind and sympathetic character :
▪ Being a kind-hearted woman, she felt sorry for the poor child.
▪ I wouldn’t have helped him at all, but then I’m not as kind-hearted as you.
▷ a shoulder to cry on /ə ˌʃəʊldəʳ tə ˈkraɪ ɒn/ [noun phrase] informal
someone who will listen sympathetically when you tell them about your problems :
▪ Remember, I’m always here if you need a shoulder to cry on.
3. to treat someone very kindly or too kindly
▷ spoil /spɔɪl/ [transitive verb]
to treat someone, especially a child, too kindly and give them everything they want whether they should have it or not, so that they behave badly :
▪ You’re spoiling that kid. He’s getting cheeky and selfish.
spoil somebody rotten
spoil someone very much
▪ Danny was her favourite grandson and she spoiled him rotten.
▷ pamper /ˈpæmpəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to look after a person or animal very kindly, and spend a lot of time trying to make them happy and comfortable, sometimes in a way that is not good for their health or character :
▪ She really pampers that dog - it’s even got its own little bed next to hers.
pamper yourself
▪ Take some time out to pamper yourself with an aromatherapy massage.
pampered [adjective only before noun]
▪ Pam was raised as the pampered daughter of a prosperous businessman.
▷ make a fuss of/fuss over /ˌmeɪk ə ˈfʌs ɒv, ˈfʌs əʊvəʳ/ [verb phrase/transitive phrasal verb] British
to look after someone very well and pay a lot of attention to them :
▪ When I came out of hospital and got back home, everyone made a great fuss of me and I loved it.
▪ My sister was jealous because Dad made such a fuss of me.
▪ I enjoyed having people fussing over me - it made me feel important.