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.
The Wild bowed out of the playoffs with a 4-1 series loss to the Avalanche that to some felt closer. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 May 2026 His match against Hugo Gaston, played on a packed Court Philippe-Chatrier, lacked the quality of Wawrinka against De Jong, but there were still some spectacular rallies and a five-setter was a fitting way for Monfils to bow out. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 27 May 2026 The latter staged frequent crossovers with the mothership series in its final years before bowing out in May 2024. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 19 May 2026 Family is the reason Brown is bowing out. Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 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 31 May. 2026.

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