to bob
- verb
- /bɑb/
- Archaic
- When the teacher entered, the students bobbed their heads in acknowledgment.
- bob a small bow
Examples
-
Perrin slung his saddlebags and blanket roll over his shoulder and carried his bow as he followed Moiraine and Lan inside, with Simion bowing and bobbing ahead of them.
Fiction book (1991) -
As a sign of respect, she gracefully bobbed in front of the audience.
-
Let's all bob our heads for a brief moment of prayer, those who can.
-
"Only if you will allow us to add our food to yours," Alfred said, bobbing another awkward bow.
Fiction book (1991) -
He responded to the compliment by bobbing a quick curtsy.
Synonyms
To lower the body slightly by bending the knees as a polite greeting, often by women
Antonyms
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
How Deep
Surface Forms
Etymology
Bob (verb, curtsy) meaning to give a quick curtsy comes from the verb bob, 'to make a short low movement'. A curtsy is called a bob because the person briefly bobs down in respect.