Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

bow

verb (1)
\ ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bow (audio) \
bowed; bowing; bows

Definition of bow

 (Entry 1 of 6)

intransitive verb

1 : to cease from competition or resistance : submit, yield refusing to bow to the inevitable— John O'Hara also : to suffer defeat bowed to the champion
2 : to bend the head, body, or knee in reverence, submission, or shame Bow before the king. bowed her head in shame
3 : to incline the head or body in salutation or assent or to acknowledge applause bowing to the audience
4 : debut the play will bow next month

transitive verb

1 : to cause to incline wind bowing the treetops
2 : to incline especially in respect or submission bow their heads in prayer
3 : to crush with a heavy burden whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave Shakespeare
4a : to express by bending the head, body, or knee : to express by bowing bowing his appreciation
b : to usher in or out with a bow (see bow entry 2)

bow

noun (1)
\ ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bow (audio) \

Definition of bow (Entry 2 of 6)

: a bending of the head or body in respect, submission, assent, or salutation also : a show of respect or submission smiled and gave a bow

bow

noun (2)
\ ˈbō How to pronounce bow (audio) \

Definition of bow (Entry 3 of 6)

1a : something bent into a simple curve or arc
b : rainbow
2 : a weapon that is used to propel an arrow and that is made of a strip of flexible material (such as wood) with a cord connecting the two ends and holding the strip bent hunting with bow and arrow
3 : archer
4a : a metal ring or loop forming a handle (as of a key)
b : a knot formed by doubling a ribbon or string into two or more loops
c : bow tie sense 1
d : a frame for the lenses of eyeglasses also : the sidepiece of the frame passing over the ear

5 music

a : a wooden rod with horsehairs stretched from end to end used in playing an instrument of the viol or violin family
b : a stroke of such a bow on the up bow

bow

verb (2)
\ ˈbō How to pronounce bow (audio) \
bowed; bowing; bows

Definition of bow (Entry 4 of 6)

intransitive verb

1 : to bend into a curve the wall bows a little
2 music : to play a stringed instrument with a bow (see bow entry 3 sense 5a)

transitive verb

1 : to cause to bend into a curve Years of riding had bowed his legs.
2 music : to play (a stringed instrument) with a bow bowing the strings

bow

noun (3)
\ ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bow (audio) \

Definition of bow (Entry 5 of 6)

1 nautical : the forward part of a ship —often used in plural crossing the bows
2 nautical : bowman entry 2

Bow

geographical name
\ ˈbō How to pronounce Bow (audio) \

Definition of Bow (Entry 6 of 6)

river 315 miles (507 kilometers) long in southwestern Alberta, Canada, rising in Banff National Park

First Known Use of bow

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (3)

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for bow

Verb (1) and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English būgan; akin to Old High German biogan to bend, Sanskrit bhujati he bends

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

Middle English bowe, from Old English boga; akin to Old English būgan

Noun (3)

Middle English bowe, bowgh, probably from Middle Dutch boech bow, shoulder; akin to Old English bōg bough

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about bow

Dictionary Entries near bow

bovo

bovoid

Bovoidea

bow

Bow

Bow's notation

bow and scrape

Statistics for bow

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for bow

The first known use of bow was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for bow

bow

verb
\ ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bow (audio) \
bowed; bowing

Kids Definition of bow

 (Entry 1 of 5)

1 : to bend the head or body as an act of politeness or respect
2 : to stop resisting : yield He bowed to pressure to resign.

bow

noun

Kids Definition of bow (Entry 2 of 5)

: the act of bending the head or body to express politeness or respect

bow

noun
\ ˈbō How to pronounce bow (audio) \

Kids Definition of bow (Entry 3 of 5)

1 : a weapon used for shooting arrows and usually made of a strip of wood bent by a cord connecting the two ends
2 : something shaped in a curve
3 : a knot made with one or more loops Tie the ribbon in a bow.
4 : a rod with horsehairs stretched from end to end used for playing a stringed instrument (as a violin)

bow

verb
\ ˈbō How to pronounce bow (audio) \
bowed; bowing

Kids Definition of bow (Entry 4 of 5)

: to bend or cause to bend into a curve The wall bows out.

bow

noun
\ ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bow (audio) \

Kids Definition of bow (Entry 5 of 5)

: the forward part of a ship

bow

noun
\ ˈbō How to pronounce bow (audio) \

Medical Definition of bow

: a frame for the lenses of eyeglasses also : the curved sidepiece of the frame passing over the ear

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on bow

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with bow

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bow

Spanish Central: Translation of bow

Nglish: Translation of bow for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of bow for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bow

Comments on bow

What made you want to look up bow? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

commemorate

Listen to the pronounciation of commemorate

to mark by some ceremony or observation

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

  • stylized drawing of woman pole vaulting across gap to get trophy
  • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games