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
Joelle Diderich, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025
Employees would nod in agreement during meetings, but frustrations simmered beneath the surface.
—Leyda Lazo, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
The meme features exaggerated but familiar nods to Dominican-American culture—tight jeans, flashy outfits, big personalities—all set to the song’s infectious merengue beat.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nod
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
Fendi nodded to the house’s fur heritage with a variety of styles made of shearling, and a couple of actual mink designs.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025
Employees would nod in agreement during meetings, but frustrations simmered beneath the surface.
—Leyda Lazo, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
Bode tells Entertainment Weekly that the wardrobe team included a clever nod to Nessa's fate in the design of the coveted silver slippers.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
The meme features exaggerated but familiar nods to Dominican-American culture—tight jeans, flashy outfits, big personalities—all set to the song’s infectious merengue beat.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nod
Cite this Entry
“Nod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nod. Accessed 1 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share