Cool MateAgree vs Nod
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Agree
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Nod
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Agree
| Agree | Nod | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈɡriː/","/əˈɡriːz/","/əˈɡriːd/","/əˈɡriːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈɡriː/","/əˈɡriːz/","/əˈɡriːd/","/əˈɡriːɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/nɒd/","/nɒdz/","/ˈnɒdɪd/","/ˈnɒdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/nɑːd/","/nɑːdz/","/ˈnɑːdɪd/","/ˈnɑːdɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To have the same opinion or feeling as someone else. | To move your head up and down to show agreement or understanding. |
| Example | I agree with you about the plan for our trip. | She gave a quick nod to show she agreed with the plan. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | emphatically, heartily, strongly, cannot, have to, be inclined to, about, on, upon, I couldn’t agree more, I quite agree, I’m sure you will agree, happily, readily, voluntarily, be unable to, fail to, to, agree to differ, agree to disagree, (be) mutually agreed, happily, readily, voluntarily, be unable to, fail to, to, agree to differ, agree to disagree, (be) mutually agreed, happily, readily, voluntarily, be unable to, fail to, to, agree to differ, agree to disagree, (be) mutually agreed | just, merely, only, at, in, to, just, merely, only, at, in, to, just, merely, only, at, in, to |
| Antonyms | disagree, dissent, oppose | shake, refuse |
| Common mistakes | Mixing up 'agree' with 'disagree', Using 'agree to' instead of 'agree with', Forgetting to include the person or thing one agrees with | Using 'nodded' incorrectly in past tense sentences., Confusing 'nod' with 'shake' when indicating different responses., Omitting the object when needed, e.g. 'I nodded at him.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'agree with' for opinions and 'agree that' for statements. Avoid in formal writing if expressing disagreement; use more formal alternatives. | Use 'nod' to indicate agreement in conversations. It’s appropriate in most contexts but can feel too informal in very formal situations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Agree vs Nod
What's the difference between Agree and Nod?
Agree: To have the same opinion or feeling as someone else. Nod: To move your head up and down to show agreement or understanding.
Which is more common: Agree and Nod?
Agree is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Agree and Nod?
Nod is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Agree and Nod the same CEFR level?
Agree: A1, Nod: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Agree and Nod?
Agree: verb, Nod: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Agree: I agree with you about the plan for our trip. Nod: She gave a quick nod to show she agreed with the plan.
Can I use Agree and Nod interchangeably?
Not always. Agree and Nod are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.