From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsort ofsort ofspoken a) QUITE/FAIRLYused to say that something is partly true but does not describe the exact situation I sort of like him, but I don’t know why. ‘Do you know what I mean?’ ‘Sort of.’ b) NOT SUREused when you are trying to describe something but it is difficult to find the right word or to be exact Then they started sort of chanting. The walls are a sort of greeny-blue colour.sort of like (=used very informally when searching for the right words) It was sort of like really strange and mysterious, walking round this empty building. c) used to make what you are saying sound less strong or direct Well, I sort of thought we could go out together sometime. It was sort of a shock when I found out. d) sort of price/time/speed etc especially British EnglishLIKE/SIMILAR a price etc that is not very exact, but could be slightly more or less That’s the sort of price I was hoping to pay. What sort of time were you thinking of starting? → sort
Examples from the Corpus
sort of price/time/speed etc• But it was the key sort of time, wasn't it?• Got to call opposite number in Coventry office about outstanding claim ... 16.22 Meeting time not like any other sort of time.• Of course, there were other sorts of times too.• Most of us do not have that sort of time to spare.• It was the sort of price any commander had to pay for hoped-for victory.• It was the sort of time and place where poems flourished along with the vegetation.• Of course, a tactless dealer irritated him even more at this sort of time. 