Verbs for Body Language and Acts of Affection

a movement of the hands, face, or body used to express an idea, feeling, or intention

She made a gesture of approval with her thumb.

to move one's head up and down as a sign of agreement, understanding, or greeting

He nodded to greet his neighbor as he walked by.

to make a quick and involuntary movement in response to a surprise, pain, or fear

She often flinches at sudden loud noises.

to make small, restless movements or gestures due to nervousness or impatience

The child couldn't sit still and kept fidgeting in his chair during the long car ride.

to draw back involuntarily, often in response to fear, pain, embarrassment, or discomfort

The loud thunder made the dog cringe in fear and seek shelter.

to gently push or prod someone or something, often to get attention or suggest a course of action

He discreetly nudged his friend to share a private joke during the meeting.

a raised body of water that moves along the surface of a sea, river, lake, etc.

The children ran towards the shoreline, excited to play in the waves crashing on the beach.

to quickly open and close one eye as a sign of affection or to indicate something is a secret or a joke

During the meeting, the colleague across the room winked to share a confidential message.

to bring your eyebrows closer together showing anger, sadness, or confusion

He tends to frown when concentrating deeply on his work.

to momentarily raise one's shoulders to express indifference

When asked about his plans for the weekend, he just shrugged and said he hadn't decided yet.

to move in an uncomfortable or restless manner with twisting or contorted motions

The toddler began to squirm in his high chair, indicating that he was no longer interested in eating.

to push out one's lips as an expression of displeasure, anger, or sadness

The child started to pout when told it was bedtime.

to twist our face in an ugly way because of pain, strong dislike, etc., or when trying to be funny

As the comedian told the joke, the audience grimaced in a mixture of amusement and discomfort.

to touch someone else's lips or other body parts with one's lips to show love, sexual desire, respect, etc.

Every morning, he kisses his wife before leaving for work.

(of a bird) to move the beak in a sudden movement and bite something

The chickens pecked at the scattered grains in the yard.

a kiss, especially a light or affectionate one

He gave her a quick buss on the cheek before leaving.

to kiss passionately and intimately

The couple couldn't resist snogging under the stars.

to engage in affectionate and intimate behavior, such as hugging, kissing, or cuddling

The couple enjoyed a quiet evening canoodling on the couch.

to tightly and closely hold someone in one's arms, typically a person one loves

She rushed to hug her friend upon seeing her after a long time.

to hold someone tightly in one's arms, especially to show affection

She was thrilled to see her long-lost friend and rushed to embrace her with a warm hug.

to hold close in one's arms or embrace affectionately, especially in a loving or comforting manner

After a long day, she loves to cuddle with her partner on the couch to relax and unwind.

to have in your hands or arms

They held candles during the power outage.

a small bed or bassinet designed for infants and young babies, typically made of wood or wicker, and equipped with rockers or gliders to help soothe and lull the baby to sleep

to touch in a gentle and loving way

He reached out to caress her cheek, expressing his love.

to touch or handle tenderly and affectionately

The couple walked hand in hand, occasionally fondling each other's fingers.

an affectionate kiss

They shared a quick smooch before saying goodbye.