bob

1 of 7

verb (1)

bobbed; bobbing

transitive verb

1
: to strike with a quick light blow : rap
2
: to move up and down in a short quick movement
bob the head
3
: to polish with a bob : buff

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move up and down briefly or repeatedly
b
: to emerge, arise, or appear suddenly or unexpectedly
2
: to nod or curtsy briefly
3
: to try to seize a suspended or floating object with the teeth

bob

2 of 7

noun (1)

1
a
: a short quick down-and-up motion
b
Scotland : any of several folk dances
2
obsolete : a blow or tap especially with the fist
3
a
: a modification of the order in change ringing
b
: a method of change ringing using a bob
4
: a small polishing wheel of solid felt or leather with rounded edges

bob

3 of 7

verb (2)

bobbed; bobbing

transitive verb

1
obsolete : deceive, cheat
2
obsolete : to take by fraud : filch

bob

4 of 7

noun (2)

1
a(1)
(2)
Scotland : nosegay
b
: a knob, knot, twist, or curl especially of ribbons, yarn, or hair
c
: a short haircut on a woman or child
2
3
: a hanging ball or weight (as on a plumb line)
4
: trifle sense 1
bits and bobs

bob

5 of 7

verb (3)

bobbed; bobbing

transitive verb

1
: to cut shorter : crop
bob a horse's tail
2
: to cut (hair) in the style of a bob

bob

6 of 7

noun (3)

plural bob
British slang

bob

7 of 7

noun (4)

Examples of bob in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Perched atop the cliffs of Disko Bay, where bobbing icebergs and families of breaching whales comprise the view, the minimalist lodging is a leader in eco-luxury so couples will feel good about their stay in this fragile part of the world that’s a part of UNESCO’s world heritage list. Jillian Dara, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 In the video, the Migos star is seen bobbing his head and loving the music with a satisfied stank face on, and since the video had no audio, viewers were left to their imagination in interpreting the caption. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2024 As the sun comes up, green heads can often be seen bobbing in the inlet, followed by long, scaly bodies: iguanas clambering up the small wooden jetty to warm themselves. Alice Newell-Hanson Stefan Ruiz, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 At midnight, a man bobs and weaves through the crowd holding a stack of giant pizza boxes. Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Swimming through the cave is akin to an out-of-body experience, even when other excitable visitors are bobbing around you. Rachel Howard, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Feb. 2024 While ‘Set was bobbing his head and clearly vibing to the music with a satisfied stank face visible beneath his black hoodie, the video had no audio, so viewers were left to their imagination in interpreting the caption. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2024 With a frown, the man bobbed his head side to side noncommittally. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2024 Shortly thereafter, its carcass was washed out to sea and likely bobbed around the surface before sinking into the inky depths. Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 25 Dec. 2023
Noun
Tapping in to this decade’s hottest hairstyle, Cruz’s razor-sharp bob was chopped to sit about an inch below her jawline, and subsequently framed her face in all the right ways. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 His initial designs, as described in a series of patents, were for a pendulum clock with a permanent magnet as its bob (that’s the weight at the bottom of the pendulum). IEEE Spectrum, 29 Feb. 2024 At the time — when her shaggy blonde bob resembled both Cobain and his wife Courtney Love’s early '90s hair cuts — Love, 59, also showed Gomez a bit of love. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024 Taylor Swift's Short Bob With Bangs Taylor Swift's short bob will never go out of style. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024 Months have been spent tracking the aspirants' bobs and weaves, this tick up or down in polling, that endorsement or defection. TIME, 14 Jan. 2024 In 2022, Zendaya cut her hair into a cute bob that hit slightly below her jawline, then switched it up with flowing, hip-length waves for a surprise Coachella performance in early 2023. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 21 Feb. 2024 Her hair was styled in a shorter bob and topped with a tiara that went with her pink dress and Barbie purse in the next. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024 In sporty black sneakers, with her hair in a bob, Squibb radiated cheerful capability. Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024

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

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bob was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near bob

Cite this Entry

“Bob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bob. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bob

1 of 4 verb
bobbed; bobbing
1
a
: to move or cause to move up and down in a short quick movement
bob the head
a cork bobbing in the water
b
: to appear suddenly or unexpectedly
may bob up anywhere
2
: to grasp or make a grab with the teeth
bob for apples

bob

2 of 4 noun
: a short jerky motion
a bob of the head

bob

3 of 4 noun
1
: a woman's or child's short haircut
2
: a weight hanging from a line
3

bob

4 of 4 verb
bobbed; bobbing
1
: to cut shorter : crop
2
: to cut (hair) in the style of a bob
Etymology

Verb

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"

More from Merriam-Webster on bob

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