type
typ
Type (noun) means a category or class of things that share particular features. Example: “What type of music do you enjoy the most?”
noun
1
A category or class of things that share particular features.
"What type of music do you enjoy the most?"
"Blood type is checked before any transfusion."
"Which type of bread is best for making toast?"
2
The kind of person someone finds attractive.
"Tall and quiet — that's just not my type."
"He is friendly enough, but honestly he is not really my type."
"She laughed and said clever, funny men were her type."
3
Printed letters or characters, or the metal blocks once used to print them.
"The old printing press used lead type set by hand."
"The small type on the label was too tiny for me to read."
"The poster used bold type so passers-by could read it from far away."
verb
1
To write using a keyboard.
"She typed the report in under an hour."
"Please type your password to continue."
"He types with two fingers but still manages to be quick."
How to use type
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA category of thing (noun), or the act of entering text on a keyboard (verb).
Common pairings
what type of
type a message
blood type
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Word forms
- Plural
- types
- Third person singular
- types
- Past tense
- typed
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What _____ of music do you enjoy the most?
Etymology
From Latin typus, itself from Greek túpos meaning "mark" or "impression," related to a verb meaning "to strike."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
antitype
Related words
Rhymes for type
See all rhymes for type →Frequently asked questions
What does “type” mean?
The word “type” means a category or class of things that share particular features. In plain terms, a category of thing (noun), or the act of entering text on a keyboard (verb).
How do you pronounce “type”?
“Type” is pronounced typ (/taɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “type” in a sentence?
Here is “type” used in a sentence: “What type of music do you enjoy the most?”
What is another word for “type”?
Words with a similar meaning to “type” include sort.
What part of speech is “type”?
Depending on how it is used, “type” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “type” come from?
The word “type” comes from Latin. From Latin typus, itself from Greek túpos meaning "mark" or "impression," related to a verb meaning "to strike.".
Is “type” a common word?
“Type” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “type” have?
“Type” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a category or class of things that share particular features.
What is the difference between a type and a kind?
The words are near-synonyms and usually interchangeable — 'this type of car' and 'this kind of car' mean the same. Type can carry a slightly more technical or precise ring, suggesting a defined category, while kind feels a little more casual. In most everyday sentences either word works fine.
What is the difference between type and category?
A category is a broad group into which things are sorted, often one of a formal set. A type is the specific class those things belong to based on shared features. The terms overlap heavily; category tends to emphasise the system of sorting, while type emphasises the shared characteristics themselves.
Can type be used as a verb?
Yes. As a verb, type means to write using a keyboard — 'type a letter.' It comes from the metal 'type' once used in printing presses. As a noun it also means a category, or a person's characteristic style — 'he's not my type.' The printing sense links the noun and verb.
What is an example of type used in a sentence?
'What type of music do you like?' asks which category someone prefers. The word groups things by shared features — blood type, soil type, or personality type all sort items into classes. It usually takes 'of' before the thing being classified, as in 'a type of flower.'
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