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
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
The show’s emotional connection to religion, having been in a Cathedral, pieces nodding to queerness, equality, and blue-collar workers speaks to the wider conversation of designers of color being part of the global fashion industry.
—Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
This custom cooking prezzie is made from cherry or maple wood (your call) and can be engraved with a scan of any handwritten recipe card—a sweet nod to family tradition.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nod
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Verb
With a shiny and textured leather exterior (which nods to the butter yellow color trend taking over this year’s runways and street style), the phone bag features an interior compartment for a little more than your phone, as well as magnetic snap closure for keeping all of it secure.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
The show’s emotional connection to religion, having been in a Cathedral, pieces nodding to queerness, equality, and blue-collar workers speaks to the wider conversation of designers of color being part of the global fashion industry.
—Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
RuPaul’s Drag Race delivered a rare and electrifying nod to K-pop in an exciting display of cultural and musical crossover.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
This custom cooking prezzie is made from cherry or maple wood (your call) and can be engraved with a scan of any handwritten recipe card—a sweet nod to family tradition.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 13 Apr. 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 18 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
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