bow

verb
UK: /baʊ/
US: /baʊ/

  1. To bend your head or body forward to show respect or to greet someone.

    1. They bow to the king. [ ] [ ]
    2. The performers bow deeply after the show, acknowledging the audience's applause with a graceful bow. [ ] [ ]

  2. To yield or submit to pressure, demands, or authority.

    1. I won't bow to his demands. [ ] [ ]
    2. Despite facing immense pressure, she refused to bow to the company's unethical requests. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

knot ribbon prow submit kowtow curtsy fore yield nod
bow noun

  1. A knot tied with loops, used for decoration or to fasten something.

    1. She has a bow in her hair. [ ] [ ]
    2. The present was wrapped with a beautiful silk bow, matching the paper's elegant design. [ ] [ ]

  2. A weapon for shooting arrows, consisting of a curved piece of wood or other material with a string connecting the ends.

    1. He shot an arrow with his bow. [ ] [ ]
    2. Robin Hood was famed for his skill with the longbow, defending the poor with every shot from his bow. [ ] [ ]

  3. The front part of a ship or boat.

    1. He stood at the bow of the ship. [ ] [ ]
    2. As the ship sliced through the waves, water sprayed over the bow, glistening in the sunlight. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "bow" in English means: To bend your head or body forward to show respect or to greet someone., To yield or submit to pressure, demands, or authority..

The phonetic transcription of "bow" is /baʊ/ in British English and /baʊ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "bow": knot, ribbon, prow, submit, kowtow, curtsy, fore, yield, nod.

Example usage of "bow": "They bow to the king.". More examples on the page.