nodding
Silent yes gesture
Nodding is a slight, repeated downward movement of the head—typically signaling agreement, acknowledgment, or drowsiness.
A nodding acquaintance is someone you know just well enough to greet with a nod.
Nodding familiarity with a subject means shallow knowledge: I have only a nodding acquaintance with French.
Things that nod move gently up and down: nodding flowers in the breeze.
Opposite of no
- approvalFavorable opinion given
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
assent · concurrence · accord · endorsement · acquiescence · acceptance · understanding · support
Respectful forward inclination
- saluteGestural sign of honor
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- smilePleased facial expression
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
namaste · curtsy · handshake · recognition · respect · welcome · farewell · hello
State of near-sleep
- sleepinessState of needing rest
- dozingLightly, briefly unconscious
- drowsyNearly falling asleep
- tiredLacking energy, needing rest
exhaustion · weariness · lethargy · heavy-lidded · yawning · drifting · snoozing · sluggish
Not using speech
- body-languagePhysical signals conveying meaning
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- indicationSign of what's coming
- cueTrigger for action
motion · movement · beckoning · directing · pointing · communication · silent
yes
Opposite of no
- approvalFavorable opinion given
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
confirmation · assent · concurrence · accord · endorsement · acquiescence · acceptance · understanding · support · concur
bow
Respectful forward inclination
acknowledgment · namaste · curtsy · handshake · recognition · respect · welcome · farewell · hello · goodbye
drowsiness
State of near-sleep
- sleepinessState of needing rest
- dozingLightly, briefly unconscious
- drowsyNearly falling asleep
tired · exhaustion · weariness · lethargy · heavy-lidded · yawning · drifting · snoozing · sluggish · drooping
nonverbal
Not using speech
- body-languagePhysical signals conveying meaning
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- indicationSign of what's coming
cue · motion · movement · beckoning · directing · pointing · communication · silent
bobbing
Rhythmic vertical movement
tempo · pulse · groove · time · rocking · oscillation · headbanging · dancing · music · tapping
- communicatingtalking, speaking, telling, sharing, expressing
- gerundswalking, running, talking, eating, sleeping
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- Charadesacting, miming, gestures, pantomime, guessing
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- simple tasksblinking, breathing, clapping, shrugging, sitting
noddingrefusing
Declining to accept
denying · disagreeing · saying no · declining · dissenting
- nodding offFalling briefly asleep
- nodding alongHead-bobbing agreement gesture
- nodding head
- nodding acquaintanceMinimal social connection
- head noddingGesture indicating yes
- nodding outFalling into involuntary sleep