namaste
noun
na·mas·te
ˈnä-mə-stā 
ˈnə-
ˈnə-
ˌnä-mə-ˈstā,
-mä-
plural namastes
: an expression of respectful greeting performed by placing the palms together, bowing the head slightly, and saying "namaste" and that is used traditionally by Hindus in South Asia
The traditional Indian greeting is the namaste: Raise your hands together toward your chin in a prayerlike position, as you lower your eyes and bow slightly.—
National Geographic Traveler
National Geographic TravelerMore beautiful than the mountainscape were the people: responding with friendly namastes, peering out from their windows and doorways as we passed by.—Anker Heegaard
—often used interjectionallyAnker HeegaardGuber opens her eyes. "Thank you all for being such great yogis! Namaste," she says, and the kids answer in unison: "Namaste."—Anne-Marie O'Connor
Anne-Marie O'ConnorExamples of namaste in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To me, based on this definition, saying namaste at the end of a yoga practice does not warrant the red flag of cultural appropriation.
—
Jeremy David Engels,
The Conversation,
23 June 2026
By the final savasana, the pups still had plenty of energy, and so the typical farewell namaste instead turned into a nama-stay-and-play.
—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
11 May 2026
By last year, Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, was showing up in India with his palms pressed in namaste, inaugurating the country’s first Apple stores.
—
Alex Travelli,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2024
No more Ray of Light-era, namaste, or all-natural fibers for Madge.
—
Liana Satenstein,
Vogue,
21 Dec. 2023
Within the 13 decks, the top one featuring a panoramic glass roof, guests can indulge in body treatments in the Aurōra spa, namaste in the fitness room or, in a sign of the times, practice dinks and firefights on the two onboard pickleball courts.
—
Carole Sovocool,
Robb Report,
1 Aug. 2023
Plenty of communities around the world get by just fine without them, opting instead for, say, the namaste or a hand over the heart.
—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2023
Judge Ila Deiss thanked the older white woman for coming by joining her hands namaste style and bowing her head.
—
Deepa Fernandes,
San Francisco Chronicle,
19 Dec. 2021
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Jeremy David Engels,
The Conversation,
23 June 2026
By the final savasana, the pups still had plenty of energy, and so the typical farewell namaste instead turned into a nama-stay-and-play.
—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
11 May 2026
By last year, Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, was showing up in India with his palms pressed in namaste, inaugurating the country’s first Apple stores.
—
Alex Travelli,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2024
No more Ray of Light-era, namaste, or all-natural fibers for Madge.
—
Liana Satenstein,
Vogue,
21 Dec. 2023
Within the 13 decks, the top one featuring a panoramic glass roof, guests can indulge in body treatments in the Aurōra spa, namaste in the fitness room or, in a sign of the times, practice dinks and firefights on the two onboard pickleball courts.
—
Carole Sovocool,
Robb Report,
1 Aug. 2023
Plenty of communities around the world get by just fine without them, opting instead for, say, the namaste or a hand over the heart.
—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2023
Judge Ila Deiss thanked the older white woman for coming by joining her hands namaste style and bowing her head.
—
Deepa Fernandes,
San Francisco Chronicle,
19 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Namaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/namaste. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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