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.
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.
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.
a gesture or action indicating that someone or something has been approved, selected, recognized, etc..
The domed ceiling is a nod to traditional library reading rooms.
a nomination, as for an office or award: The film has received critical praise and two Oscar nods.
It looks like he’s locked up the party’s nod for governor.
The film has received critical praise and two Oscar nods.
nod out to fall asleep, especially owing to the effects of a drug.
nod off to fall asleep or doze, especially in a sitting position.
He was reprimanded for nodding off in class.
on the nod,
British Slang. on credit.
Slang. drowsy following a dose of a narcotic drug.
get the nod, to get approval; be selected, recognized, etc.: He got the nod as starting pitcher for the Phillies.
We’ve gotten the nod from the administration to hire two assistant professors.
He got the nod as starting pitcher for the Phillies.
give the nod, to give an indication of approval, recognition, etc.: It wasn’t till May that the company was given the nod to schedule the event.
The board gave the nod to the new proposal.
It wasn’t till May that the company was given the nod to schedule the event.
to lower and raise (the head) briefly, as to indicate agreement, invitation, etc
(tr) to express or indicate by nodding
she nodded approval
(tr) to bring or direct by nodding
she 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 asleep
the old lady sat nodding by the fire
(intr) to be momentarily inattentive or careless
even Homer sometimes nods
a slight, casual, or superficial knowledge (of a subject or a person)
a quick down-and-up movement of the head, as in assent, command, etc
she greeted him with a nod
a short sleep; nap See also land of Nod
a swaying motion, as of flowers, etc, in the wind
informal
agreed, as in a committee meeting, without any formal procedure
(formerly) on credit
informal boxing the award of a contest to a competitor on the basis of points scored
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nodde, of uncertain origin
Ultimately from Hebrew Nōdh “wandering”
When you nod, you shake your head up and down, as if you're indicating agreement. If you want to say "Yes" without uttering a single word, all you have to do is nod. There's the deliberate nod, when you agree with someone by raising and lowering your chin, and then there's the accidental nod — when you're so sleepy that your eyes close and your head dips down. You can even say you "nod off to sleep" in this case. If you know someone well enough to nod at them when you pass, but not well enough to stop and chat, you can call that person "a nodding acquaintance."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Appeared in the June 13, 2026, print edition as 'Paramount-Warner Deal Wins DOJ Nod'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
Her acting career began at the age of three, when she was cast as King of the Land of Nod in a school play.
From BBC • Nov. 8, 2024
The results provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between nitrogen nutrition, Nod factor signaling, and root microbiome assembly.
From Science Daily • May 23, 2024
Banishers comes from the French studio Don’t Nod, best known for story-heavy cult favorites like Vampyr and Life Is Strange.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 11, 2024
“Here’s Mr. Pip, aged parent,” said Wemmick, “and I wish you could hear his name. Nod away at him, Mr. Pip; that’s what he likes. Nod away at him, if you please, like winking!”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
