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

Verb (1) a family of ducks bobbing on the water he playfully bobbed his brother on the nose to get his attention Noun (2) the lassie carried only a little bob on her wedding day Verb (3) bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
In August 2023, Piquet posted a video on Instagram of her and Penelope sea bobbing on Verstappen’s back. Jordana Comiter, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2024 During qualifying, her performance had Snoop Dogg bobbing his head to the soundtrack of Beyoncé hits. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2024
Noun
Megan Thee Stallion Our host for the evening, Megan Thee Stallion made her first appearance of many throughout the night in a sleek, chin-length bob with straight-across, brow-length bangs, styled by Kellon Deryck. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Sep. 2024 In the same room, a sat Naomi Campbell turned heads with a banging black bob which rested above oversized shades. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bob 

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 4 Oct. 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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