bob 1 of 3

verb (1)

Definition of bobnext
as in to shave
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bob

2 of 3

verb (2)

ˈbäb How to pronounce bob (audio)
1
as in to pump
to make short up-and-down movements a family of ducks bobbing on the water

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2
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner he playfully bobbed his brother on the nose to get his attention

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bob

3 of 3

noun

Scottish
as in bouquet
a bunch of flowers the lassie carried only a little bob on her wedding day

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bob
Verb
And that kind of thing didn’t happen in Mystic, a touristy escape from New York City complete with bobbing boats and sea lions doing tricks at the aquarium. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026 From a fringed mullet, to a blonde buzz cut, bobs in various lengths, micro bangs, and even a shade of citrus—Kristen Stewart’s looks are always executed with an edge. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 24 July 2026
Noun
After growing the pixie cut back out into a bob, the Mad Men actress showed off her hair while rocking a lacy blue co-ord set in selfies posted to Instagram in March. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026 In front, Palo Alto 30-somethings bob in the waves on their surfboards, cheered on by their WASPy spouses clad in linen tunics, who keep half an eye on their salty-haired offspring hunting for seashells on the beach. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bob
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bob
  1. shave
  2. pump
  3. hit
  4. bouquet
  5. cut
  6. shake
  7. bang
  8. trim
Verb
  • With competition so fierce in the race to build and release the latest AI models however, the expediency of shaving off every possible drag on speed trumps all.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Kath is competitive only about things that matter, like logging steps or shaving her legs, and the game had no bearing on her reality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • Elsewhere in high fashion, McQueen has embraced corset-like footwear with a range of styles including the peep-toe Lexie Pumps worn by Sophie Thatcher and other silhouettes like the fall 2026 Koko wedge pump with brogue trim.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • There are also some manual vacuums available that rely on a pumping action from the user.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of pump
Verb
  • That was a new record and only once before has the number of moves hit double figures.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Bryce Eldridge hit his 12th home run, an impressive opposite-field shot.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hit
Noun
  • Grab a bouquet at the store’s equally stunning sister flower shop across the street.
    — Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The bride’s mother, Liz, a photographer, bought the flowers from Covent Garden Flower Market the day before and arranged them in huge urns by the altar, along with putting together her daughter’s bridal bouquet.
    — Jessica Salter, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of bouquet
Verb
  • Low-flow plumbing fixtures and water-saving showerheads cut water consumption, and LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances lower overall energy use.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan – which is needed by approximately 45% of the population – has been dramatically cut by international donors since the Taliban returned to power, with women and girls bearing the brunt of those cuts.
    — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • Tarrant County District Attorney In mid-November 1996, Narez shook her daughter, Kasandra White, and threw the child into a wall, causing her head to strike a door, according to the 1999 Tarrant County grand jury indictment.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • On Monday, in the early morning, cheerleaders flanked the entrance to the courtyard, cheering and shaking their pom-poms as their classmates filed in, showing varying degrees of enthusiasm.
    — Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • That looked like all Boise would need until Madison’s Aaron Edwards banged home a world-class equalizer in the 83rd minute, firing a shot from the left edge of the box and tucking it inside the right post.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Where grass grows right up to a tree’s trunk, the lawnmower will inevitably follow, banging and chipping the bark or scalping bark off roots that are exposed above the soil.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of bang
Verb
  • The machine is programmed in advance, allowing landscapers to complete other tasks, such as trimming and cleanup, while the mower cuts the grass.
    — Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Tempo trimmed the deficit to four points in the final minute, but Bueckers hit a jumper to get the lead back to six before Isabelle Harrison was called for a charge.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of trim

Browse Nearby Words

boats
bob
bobbed
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Cite this Entry

“Bob.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bob. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bob for Spanish Speakers

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