genuflect

intransitive-verb
UK: /dʒen.jʊˈflekt/
US: /ˈdʒen.jʊ.flekt/

  1. To bend one's knee to the ground, showing respect or worship.

    1. I always genuflect when I enter the church.
    2. The knights were expected to genuflect before the queen to show their loyalty.

  2. To show excessive respect or deference to someone, often in a way that seems insincere.

    1. He didn't genuflect to his boss; he just did his job well.
    2. The media tends to genuflect to celebrities, praising their every move.

Synonyms

kneel cringe bow defer curtsy submit kowtow
genuflect verb

  1. To bend one knee to the ground as a gesture of reverence or worship.

    1. She genuflected before the altar.
    2. Many Catholics genuflect as they enter a church pew to show respect.

  2. To treat someone with excessive deference or obedience.

    1. They genuflect him like he's some kind of god.
    2. The junior staff would genuflect the CEO in meetings, agreeing with everything he said.
genuflect noun

  1. The act of bending the knee, especially in worship or as a sign of respect.

    1. He made a genuflect before sitting.
    2. A deep genuflect showed his respect for the king and his place in the realm.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "genuflect" in English means: To bend one's knee to the ground, showing respect or worship., To show excessive respect or deference to someone, often in a way that seems insincere..

The phonetic transcription of "genuflect" is /dʒen.jʊˈflekt/ in British English and /ˈdʒen.jʊ.flekt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "genuflect": kneel, cringe, bow, defer, curtsy, submit, kowtow.

Example usage of "genuflect": "I always genuflect when I enter the church.". More examples on the page.