Bob — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbäb/

Meaning & Definition of Bob

Bob (verb)

  1. to strike with a quick light blow, rap
  2. to move up and down in a short quick movement
  3. to polish with a bob, buff
  4. deceive, cheat
  5. to take by fraud, filch
  6. to cut shorter, crop
  7. to cut (hair) in the style of a bob

Bob (noun)

  1. a short quick down-and-up motion
  2. any of several folk dances
  3. a blow or tap especially with the fist
  4. bunch, cluster
  5. nosegay
  6. a knob, knot, twist, or curl especially of ribbons, yarn, or hair
  7. shilling
  8. bobsled

Bob (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument

    "bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday"

    similar: clip, crop, cut, cut back, dock, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, prune, shave, shear, snip, trim
    related: skive, whittle, manicure, mow, pinch, stump, curtail, shorten
    near: elongate, extend, lengthen

  2. to make short up-and-down movements

    "a family of ducks bobbing on the water"

    similar: bobble, jog, jounce, nod, pump, seesaw, wag
    related: jerk, jiggle, shake, wiggle, wobble, oscillate, rock, sway, swing, undulate, drop, duck

  3. 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"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap, hang one on
    related: batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough, scuff, bunt, flick, stroke, tap, bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp, bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump (slang), fell, floor, knock down, level, rabbit-punch, sucker punch, cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip, bean, brain, conk, skull

Bob (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a bunch of flowers

    "the lassie carried only a little bob on her wedding day"

    similar: bouquet, nosegay, posy
    related: boutonniere, corsage, arrangement, garland, lei

Related Entry: Bob (up) (verb)

Bob (up) is a different word from Bob. The synonyms below are for bob (up), not for bob.

  1. as in break out, shoot (up)

    similar: arise, blossom, break, break out, crop (up), emerge, erupt, issue, outcrop, rise, shoot (up), spring (up), surface, dawn, debut, happen, occur, arrive, come, rematerialize, bulk, loom, reappear, resurface, appear, come out, materialize, show, show up, turn up, unfold
    opposite: clear, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, go (away), melt (away), vanish, depart, leave, retire, withdraw

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bob

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bob:

clip, crop, cut, cut back, dock, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, prune, shave, shear, snip, trim, bobble, jog, jounce, nod, pump, seesaw, wag, bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail

Related Words for Bob

skive, whittle, manicure, mow, pinch, stump, curtail, shorten, jerk, jiggle, shake, wiggle, wobble, oscillate, rock, sway, swing, undulate, drop, duck, batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick

Near Antonyms of Bob

elongate, extend, lengthen

Word Forms of Bob

Inflections: bobbed, bobbing

Origin & Etymology of Bob

Middle English boben

First known use: 1568t

Words & Phrases Containing Bob

bob veal, bob for apples, plumb bob

Frequently Asked Questions about Bob

What does "Bob" mean?

"Bob" means to strike with a quick light blow, rap. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to strike with a quick light blow, rap. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bob"?

Other words for "Bob" include clip, crop, cut, cut back, dock, lop (off), nip and pare. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bob" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bob"?

There are 152 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bob". Common alternatives include clip, crop, cut, cut back, dock, lop (off), nip, pare, poll and prune.

How do you use "Bob" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bob" in a sentence: "bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday"; "a family of ducks bobbing on the water"; "he playfully bobbed his brother on the nose to get his attention".

Is "Bob" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bob" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Bob"?

"Bob" is pronounced /ˈbäb/.

What is the origin of the word "Bob"?

"Bob" comes from Middle English boben. First known use: 1568t.

What is another word for "Bob" meaning "to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument"?

When "Bob" (verb) means to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument, synonyms include clip, crop, cut, cut back, dock and lop (off).