nodded; nodding
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
Robert Maurer1
: 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
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
Annie Daly, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026
The timepiece, which retails for 8,400 euros, was conceived with optimal legibility in mind and its dial features a three-day date indicator, nodding to its 70-hour power reserve.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 2 Jan. 2026
Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Twelve towering chimneys, a nod to the city’s industrial heritage, will be included in a 62,000-seater stadium like no other built by 2030.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nod
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Verb
The decor nods to traditional Dominican architecture through natural woods and open verandas.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026
The timepiece, which retails for 8,400 euros, was conceived with optimal legibility in mind and its dial features a three-day date indicator, nodding to its 70-hour power reserve.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
Top nominees included Sinners, which led in film with a total of 17 nominations, along with Netflix’s Adolescence topping the TV categories with six total nods.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Twelve towering chimneys, a nod to the city’s industrial heritage, will be included in a 62,000-seater stadium like no other built by 2030.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nod
Cite this Entry
“Nod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nod. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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