kowtow

verb kow·tow \ (ˌ)kau̇-ˈtau̇ , ˈkau̇-ˌtau̇ \

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Examples: kowtow in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of kowtow

kowtowed; kowtowing; kowtows

intransitive verb

1 : to show obsequious deference : fawn

kowtows to the boss

2 : to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in token of homage, worship, or deep respect

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Examples of kowtow in a Sentence

you can try kowtowing to the boss, but he'll see right through you

Recent Examples of kowtow from the Web

Many people consider the Fiji Times to be the last independent media voice in a country where many news outlets kowtow to the government.

— Fox News, "Fiji 4 await verdict in case that tests press freedoms," 17 May 2018
Whether consciously or not, the physician and patient are enacting a ritual of domination and submission, much like the kowtowing required in the presence of a Chinese emperor.

— kevin canfield, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Natural Causes,’ by Barbara Ehrenreich," 3 May 2018
It won’t be bullied: There are few countries around the world that refuse to kowtow to American pressure.

— charlie campbell / beijing, Time, "Why Singapore? 6 Reasons the Asian City-State Is Perfect for the Trump-Kim Summit," 8 June 2018
Many people consider The Fiji Times to be the last independent media voice in a country where many news outlets kowtow to the government.

— Washington Post, "Fiji finds 4 not guilty of sedition in media freedom case," 22 May 2018
But Miuccia Prada is above kowtowing to current trends.

— steff yotka, Vogue, "Prada’s New Shoe Is the Ultimate ’90s Throwback," 5 May 2018
The new general manager and head coach kowtowed to Eli Manning and never truly became enamored with the Big Five quarterbacks who would end up being selected in the first round of the 2018 draft.

— conor orr, SI.com, "Why Are the Giants Still Building Around 37-Year-Old Eli Manning?," 4 May 2018
Against this backdrop, the Wuhan visit contained an undeniable element of Indian kowtowing.

— sadanand dhume, WSJ, "Modi Signals Weakness by Making Nice With China’s Xi," 3 May 2018
That same year, 244 people were killed in city traffic, and yet our leaders kowtowed to vocal automobile activists who’d rather be allowed to continue driving fast than have our streets reworked to slow down cars and improve safety.

— paul thornton, latimes.com, "After Stephon Clark, will good cops finally have had enough?," 7 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kowtow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of kowtow

see ²kowtow

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1826

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

kowtow Synonyms

Phrases

curry favor, kiss up to;

kowtow

noun

Definition of kowtow

: an act of kowtowing

Did You Know?

Kowtow originated as a noun referring to the act of kneeling and touching one's head to the ground as a salute or act of worship to a revered authority. In traditional China this ritual was performed by commoners making requests to the local magistrate, by the emperor to the shrine of Confucius, or by foreign representatives appearing before the emperor to establish trade relations. (In the late 18th century, some Western nations resisted performing the ritual, which acknowledged the Chinese emperor as the "son of heaven.") The word kowtow derives from Chinese "koutou," formed by combining the verb "kou" ("to knock") with the noun "tou" ("head"). The noun had arrived in English by 1804, and the earliest evidence for the verb dates from 1826.