nod

[ nod ]

/ nɒd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR nod ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), nod·ded, nod·ding.

to make a slight, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command.

to let the head fall slightly forward with a sudden, involuntary movement when sleepy.

to doze, especially in a sitting position: The speaker was so boring that half the audience was nodding.

to become careless, inattentive, or listless; make an error or mistake through lack of attention.

(of trees, flowers, plumes, etc.) to droop, bend, or incline with a swaying motion.

verb (used with object), nod·ded, nod·ding.

to bend (the head) in a short, quick downward movement, as of assent or greeting.

to express or signify by such a movement of the head: to nod approval; to nod agreement.

to summon, bring, or send by a nod of the head.

to cause (something) to lean or sway; incline.

noun

a short, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command or because of drowsiness.

a brief period of sleep; nap.

a bending or swaying movement.

Verb Phrases

nod off, to fall asleep or doze, especially in a sitting position: He was reprimanded for nodding off in class.

nod out, Slang. to fall asleep, especially owing to the effects of a drug.

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Here is our second set of teacher-selected PSAT vocabulary words. Do you know the meanings of these terms?

Question 1 of 10

advocate

to give up possession or occupancy of.

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for nod

give the nod to, Informal. to express approval of; agree to: The board gave the nod to the new proposal.

on the nod,

British Slang. on credit.
Slang. drowsy following a dose of a narcotic drug.

Origin of nod

1350–1400; Middle English nodde, of uncertain origin

SYNONYMS FOR nod

3 drowse.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR nod ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM nod

nod·der, nounnod·ding·ly, adverbun·nod·ding, adjective

Words nearby nod

nocturnal emission, nocturnal enuresis, nocturnal myoclonus, nocturne, nocuous, nod, nod off, nod out, nodal, nodal bradycardia, nodal escape

Definition for nod (2 of 2)

Nod

[ nod ]

/ nɒd /

noun

the land east of Eden where Cain went to dwell. Gen. 4:16.

land of Nod.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for nod

I lie and nod my head yes while wiping the tears on my gray fleece sleeve.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I nod, and he rolls his eyes in the direction of the bathroom.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She set a career nominations record with her 21st nod—all in the TV fields—for Best Actress in a Comedy for Nurse Jackie.
Jennifer Aniston, Oscar Nominee? 5 Takeaways from the 2015 SAG Award Nominations|Kevin Fallon|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We nod our heads towards Pakistan and he is quiet, staring at the floor.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When he says something, nod; this nodding will induce him to agree with you.
Russia’s Gold Digger Academy|Peter Pomerantsev|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Robert always saluted the mate, and Haley responded by a nod, or a cool good-morning, but did not indulge in any conversation.
Brave and Bold|Horatio Alger
But England was then inclined to take its religion from the nod of a capricious tyrant.
Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries, Vol. 1|Henry Hallam
To Fred he only vouchsafed a nod, to show that he had heard what Fred had waylaid him to say.
Moth and Rust|Mary Cholmondeley
Mr. Vincent stood up with a nod and leaned himself against the mantelpiece, looking down at the rather indignant young man.
The Necromancers|Robert Hugh Benson
They use a direct and positive negative, but express the affirmative by a nod of the head or an inclination of the body.
A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson|Watkin Tench

British Dictionary definitions for nod

nod

/ (nɒd) /

verb nods, nodding or nodded

to lower and raise (the head) briefly, as to indicate agreement, invitation, etc

(tr) to express or indicate by noddingshe nodded approval

(tr) to bring or direct by noddingshe nodded me towards the manager's office

(intr) (of flowers, trees, etc) to sway or bend forwards and back

(intr) to let the head fall forward through drowsiness; be almost asleepthe old lady sat nodding by the fire

(intr) to be momentarily inattentive or carelesseven Homer sometimes nods

nodding acquaintance a slight, casual, or superficial knowledge (of a subject or a person)

noun

a quick down-and-up movement of the head, as in assent, command, etcshe greeted him with a nod

a short sleep; napSee also land of Nod

a swaying motion, as of flowers, etc, in the wind

on the nod informal

agreed, as in a committee meeting, without any formal procedure
(formerly) on credit

the nod boxing informal the award of a contest to a competitor on the basis of points scored

Derived forms of nod

nodding, adjective, noun

Word Origin for nod

C14 nodde, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with nod

nod

In addition to the idiom beginning with nod

nodding acquaintance
nod off

also see:

get the nod

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

nod

verb (used without object), nod·ded, nod·ding.

verb (used with object), nod·ded, nod·ding.