bowverb [ I or T ]
uk/baʊ/us/baʊ/to bend your head or body forward, especially as a way of showing someone respect or expressing thanks to people who have watched you perform:
They bowed to the Queen.
We bowed our heads in prayer.
He bowed down (= very low) before (= in front of) the king and begged for mercy.
Compare
curtsy verb
More examples
- They bowed deferentially as she came into the room.
- The children bowed their heads in shame.
- The Princess, visibly moved, kept her head bowed during the ceremony.
- They had to bow to the Prince.
- She bowed down before the King.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical gestures of respect
- curtsy
- doff
- doff your hat to sb/sth idiom
- fistbump
- genuflect
- handshake
- prostrate
- salaam
- salute
Idiom(s)
bow and scrape
Phrasal verb(s)
bow down to sb
bow out
bow to sb/sth
bownoun [ C ]
uk/baʊ/us/baʊ/bow noun [ C ] (BEND)
the movement of bending your head or body forward, especially as a way of showing someone respect or expressing thanks to people who have watched you perform:
The audience applauded enthusiastically, and she came back on stage to take another bow.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical gestures of respect
- curtsy
- doff
- doff your hat to sb/sth idiom
- fistbump
- genuflect
- handshake
- prostrate
- salaam
- salute
bow noun [ C ] (FRONT PART)
also bows the front part of a ship
Compare
stern noun
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Parts of ships & boats
- abaft
- boathook
- boiler room
- capstan
- echo sounder
- engine room
- gangplank
- gunnel
- helm
- jib
- lanyard
- lifebelt
- mast
- oar
- paddle
- porthole
- rib
- rudder
- sail
- tiller
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Idiom(s)
fire a (warning) shot across sb's bow