bow out

verb

bowed out; bowing out; bows out
Synonyms of bow outnext

intransitive verb

: retire, withdraw
also : lose
bowed out in the first round of the tournament

Examples of bow out in a Sentence

quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Walz bowed out of his reelection race earlier this month. Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026 But drummer/vibraphonist Chuck Redd — who has played at this three-day event at the Del Mar Hilton for nearly 20 consecutive years — is the first to make headlines around the world for bowing out of a performance. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026 The Traitors has cemented its status as the biggest draw on British television, bowing out with a record audience for a non-celebrity version of the BBC show. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2026 Certainly, if the Broncos bow out, players and coaches will wonder what might have been. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bow out

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bow out was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bow%20out. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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