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
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Peppiatt’s Irish-language film, riddled with expletives, hallucinogenics and baton twirling mischief, swept up at the British Independent Film Awards in December and on Wednesday, scored six BAFTA nods, including for best British film and outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
Tobias Burns, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
First lady Jill Biden’s outfit for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday was a nod to bipartisan unity.
—Ty Gaskins, WWD, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nod 
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Verb
The menu nods, as well, to the Gulf Coast, to the Mediterranean, and to East and Southeast Asia, but the global pantries remain segregated dish by dish.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Peppiatt’s Irish-language film, riddled with expletives, hallucinogenics and baton twirling mischief, swept up at the British Independent Film Awards in December and on Wednesday, scored six BAFTA nods, including for best British film and outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
The union declined to endorse a candidate for president, a move that many saw as an implicit nod to Trump.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
First lady Jill Biden’s outfit for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday was a nod to bipartisan unity.
—Ty Gaskins, WWD, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nod
Dictionary Entries Near nod
Cite this Entry
“Nod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nod. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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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