Synonyms
Examples of bob in a Sentence
Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
The audience, packed in elbow-to-elbow, had to suffice with tiny two-steps and head bobbing.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023
Taylor Swift Runs into Travis Kelce’s Arms, Plants a Kiss After Argentina Show
Kelce then put his hands over his head in shock as fans cheered, before raising his arms and bobbing them along to the song.
—Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023
The 360-degree design supports the neck from all directions, preventing a bobbing head and back strain when sleeping in an upright position — even on international flights spanning 12 or more hours.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2023
Here’s where to find the best mandu Oct. 3, 2022
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Instead of steering the dumplings in one direction or another with a dipping sauce or various other condiments, the mandu are left to bob in a clear broth.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023
With their bobbing golden flowers, these are a cheery addition to the spring garden.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, ELLE Decor, 23 Aug. 2023
And that night, as a punk band played, Teran, Lyman, and friends bobbed their heads to the music.
—Hilary Beaumont, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2023
On a recent visit, several large patrol boats were being built, while a handful of commercial tankers bobbed in the water, awaiting repairs.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023
Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 25 Nov. 2023
While soft-wave bobs have been having a moment for a while now, Davis's hair is proof that curls deserve to be spotlighted in above-the-shoulder styles.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 14 Nov. 2023
This clip — head bobs, finger-snapping and all — is burned in our brains for all eternity, so now it shall be seared into yours as well.
—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
And speaking of bobs, more recently, Eve threw up a peace sign in a platinum bob no one can compete with.
—Essence Beauty Editors, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
Brown, sporting a sharp bob and a shiny manicure, has posted up at her grandmother Josephine’s house, a homey spot in the residential neighborhood of West Ashley, filled with old issues of Ebony magazine and ceramic animals.
—Priya Krishna, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2023
Here, find some of the best Italian bobs (with fringes and without) to add to your mood board.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 7 Nov. 2023
The result was a just-longer-than-jaw-length bob that could be curled under.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2023
Her bob barely grazed her shoulders while the bangs completely covered her eyebrows, falling into her eyes.
—Gabi Thorne, Allure, 1 Nov. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bob.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Verb (1)
Middle English boben
Verb (2)
Middle English bobben, from Old French bober
Noun (2)
Middle English bobbe
Noun (3)
perhaps from the name Bob
Verb (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Verb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Verb (3)
1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (3)
1789, in the meaning defined above
Noun (4)
1856, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing bob
Articles Related to bob
Dictionary Entries Near bob
Cite this Entry
“Bob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bob. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
bob
1 of 4 verbbob
2 of 4 nounbob
3 of 4 nounVerb
Middle English boben, bobben "to hit or beat"
Noun
from earlier bob "a knot or twist of yarn or hair," from Middle English bobbe "bunch, cluster"
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