nod

UK: /ˈnɒd/ US: /nɑd/ ,(nod)

Inflections of 'nod' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

nods

v 3rd person singular

nodding

v pres p

nodded

v past

nodded

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nod /nɑd/   v., nod•ded, nod•ding, n. 
v. 

1. to make a slight, quick bending movement of the head, as in agreement, greeting, or command: [no object]
   She nodded at us and we stood up.
   [~ + object]
   He nodded his head in approval.
2. to express or show by such a movement:
   [~ + object] He nodded his approval.
3. [no object] to let the head fall slightly forward with a sudden movement, as from sleepiness.
4. Slang Terms nod off, [no object] to fall asleep.

n. [countable]

5. a short, quick bending of the head:
   At a nod from the teacher they all began to sing.

Idioms

6. Idioms, Informal Terms give the nod to, [~ + object] to express approval of:
   He gave the nod to our proposal.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nod  (nod), v., nod•ded, nod•ding, n. 
v.i. 

1. to make a slight, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command.
2. to let the head fall slightly forward with a sudden, involuntary movement when sleepy.
3. to doze, esp. in a sitting position:
   The speaker was so boring that half the audience was nodding.
4. to become careless, inattentive, or listless;
   make an error or mistake through lack of attention.
5. Botany (of trees, flowers, plumes, etc.) to droop, bend, or incline with a swaying motion.

v.t. 

6. to bend (the head) in a short, quick downward movement, as of assent or greeting.
7. to express or signify by such a movement of the head:
   to nod approval; to nod agreement.
8. to summon, bring, or send by a nod of the head.
9. to cause (something) to lean or sway;
   incline.
10. Idioms nod off, to fall asleep or doze, esp. in a sitting position:
    He was reprimanded for nodding off in class.
11. Drugs, Idioms nod out, [Slang.] to fall asleep owing to the effects of a dose of a narcotic analgesic drug.

n. 

12. a short, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command or because of drowsiness.
13. a brief period of sleep;
    nap.
14. a bending or swaying movement.
15. Idioms, Informal Terms give the nod to, [Informal.] to express approval of;
    agree to:
    The board gave the nod to the new proposal.
16. on the nod:
    • Idioms [Brit. Slang.] on credit.
    • Idioms [Slang.] drowsy following a dose of a narcotic drug.

• Middle English nodde, of uncertain origin, originally 1350–1400

nod′der, n. 
nod′ding•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 3. drowse.

Nod  (nod), n. 

1. Bible the land east of Eden where Cain went to dwell. Gen. 4:16.
2. Mythology See land of Nod. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nod / nɒd/ verb (nods, nodding, nodded)

1. to lower and raise (the head) briefly, as to indicate agreement, invitation, etc
2. (transitive) to express or indicate by nodding: she nodded approval
3. (transitive) to bring or direct by nodding: she nodded me towards the manager's office
4. (intransitive) (of flowers, trees, etc) to sway or bend forwards and back
5. (intransitive) to let the head fall forward through drowsiness; be almost asleep
6. (intransitive) to be momentarily inattentive or careless: even Homer sometimes nods
7. nodding acquaintance ⇒ a slight, casual, or superficial knowledge (of a subject or a person)

noun

1. a quick down-and-up movement of the head, as in assent, command, etc
2. a short sleep; nap
   See also land of Nod

Etymology: 14th Century nodde, of obscure origin

ˈnodding adjective , noun