nod

1 of 2

verb

nodded; nodding

intransitive verb

1
: to make a quick downward motion of the head whether deliberately (as in expressing assent or salutation) or involuntarily (as from drowsiness)
She nodded in agreement.
The guard nodded to us as we walked in.
He sat nodding by the fire.
2
: to incline or sway from the vertical as though ready to fall
signposts nodding in the wind
3
: to bend or sway the upper part gently downward or forward : bob gently
the plumes that nodded on his helmet
nodding flowers on long stems
4
: to make a slip or error in a moment of abstraction
… Fuentes nods, and his language then falls into … an overly learned mumbo-jumbo that stops the drama of his action.Robert Maurer

transitive verb

1
: to incline downward or forward
nodded his head in agreement
2
: to bring, invite, or send by a nod
nodded us in
3
: to signify by a nod
nodded their approval
nodder noun

nod

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or an instance of nodding
gave a nod of greeting
2
: an indication especially of approval or recognition

Examples of nod in a Sentence

Verb She nodded when I asked her if she was ready. I asked her if she could hear me, and she nodded her head. “The bathroom is around the corner,” he said, nodding to the left. She nodded toward the dirty dishes and said she would get to them later.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The role earned her two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nods, cementing her as a trailblazer. Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025 The more traditional floor plan nods to the past with wide porches, elegant bay windows, and 12-foot ceilings, but feels suited to today’s living style. Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
The album had 17 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 — a new record for Swift — and received a Grammy nod for album of the year. Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 12 Aug. 2025 Davis had a tobacco pipe tucked into her bonnet, a nod to the colony’s biggest export. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nod

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English nodden; perhaps akin to Old High German hnotōn to shake

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nod was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nod. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

nod

1 of 2 verb
nodded; nodding
1
: to bend the head downward or forward (as in bowing or going to sleep or as a way of answering "yes")
2
: to move up and down
the tulips nodded in the breeze
3
: to show by a nod of the head
nod agreement
4
: to let one's attention roam for a moment and make an error
nodder noun

nod

2 of 2 noun
: the action of nodding

More from Merriam-Webster on nod

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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