# in kind

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/in-kind
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

In a reciprocal manner; in a similar way; in the same kind.

## Examples

- He was rude, so she replied in kind.
- If you smile at her, she usually smiles back in kind.
- They shout at us, and we always shout back in kind.
- When the competitor lowered their prices, our company decided to respond in kind to keep our customers.
- After the neighbors helped us move our heavy furniture, we decided to thank them in kind by helping them paint their new fence.
- The charity prefers cash donations, but they also accept gifts in kind like warm blankets and canned food for the winter.
- The neighboring nation viewed the military buildup as a direct provocation and felt compelled to respond in kind by increasing its own defensive capabilities.

## Origin

The phrase enters English as a calque of the Latin *in specie*, denoting a transaction conducted using the actual goods or services in question rather than a substitute medium such as currency. The Latin *in specie* translates literally as "in appearance" or "in form," providing the basis for the English equivalent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.