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
Verb
Johnson was nodding to the widening fallout from his administration’s tug-of-war for control of Chicago Public Schools, which landed him a rebuke from a whopping 41 out of 50 aldermen, including a majority of the Progressive Caucus, which has been his staunchest bloc of City Council allies. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2024 According to the brand, Hugh Dutton’s kinetic light sculpture nods to the luminosity of Tiffany & Co. diamonds, an aim to unite artistry with craftsmanship, and immerse visitors in the jeweler’s world. Thomas Waller, WWD, 18 Oct. 2024
Noun
Covering about 2,150 square feet, the boutique is decked in light wood in a nod to the natural landscape of the state of Washington, where the U.S. brand is based and echoing the blueprint of Filson’s European retail network, which debuted last year in Italy’s tony ski resort Cortina d’Ampezzo. Martino Carrera, WWD, 22 Oct. 2024 Rodriguez said her favorite thing about the show is its nod to the city of L.A. Dana Feldman, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nod 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nod.' 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

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

Dictionary Entries Near nod

Cite this Entry

“Nod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nod. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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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