bow 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bow (audio)
Definition of bownext
1
as in to succumb
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) finally bowed to the judge's insistence that she change her outfit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to submit
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) bowed to the craving for fresh coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bow

2 of 3

verb (2)

ˈbō How to pronounce bow (audio)
1
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the river bows gently to the north before it reaches the sea

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bend
to cause to turn away from a straight line you'll have to gently bow the strip of wood in order to fit it in

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bow

3 of 3

noun

ˈbō How to pronounce bow (audio)
as in bend
something that curves or is curved her full lips form a pair of perfect bows

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bow
Verb
The enmity between the sides grew after the Irish players wore black armbands and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem before the first match. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 The first, at least, is about to be answered, with Artificial set to bow Monday night at the New York Film Festival. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
The retaliation begins outside the chapel, where Ellen uses her bow to quietly pick off the guard escorting the hostages, allowing the women to escape and seize his weapons. — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 The race to see who would come out on top among the week’s two other top 10 album bows was a squeaker, separated by a few hundred units. — Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bow
  1. succumb
  2. submit
  3. curve
  4. bend
  5. curvature
  6. concede
  7. surrender
  8. arch
Verb
  • Rejecting Question Three would send a powerful signal that not every American is ready to succumb to cynicism and propagate the worst parts of our political culture.
    — Colin Pascal, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Moore succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital later in the morning.
    — Jessie DiMartino, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of succumb
Verb
  • There are currently around 1,000 new Pip claims submitted every day in the UK; about 34% are successful.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Holtec International has submitted its Preliminary Safety Analysis Report to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of submit
Verb
  • The space seamlessly flows into a dining area and a custom kitchen outfitted with curving cabinetry, stainless steel shelving, Caesarstone countertops, a contoured island, and a breakfast nook.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Designed by Behar Font & Partners, the building’s curving silhouette and glass façade evoke the slender form of a tulip blossom.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of curve
Verb
  • Her son, Gabe Smith, described his mother as tempered, tender and tough — someone who could bend and not break.
    — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Centuries later, Art Nouveau revived nature’s patterns once again, bending iron and glass into curling stems and petals.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of bend
Noun
  • Mike recalled that the effects of the disease were noticeable around the time of his 2011 wedding to Zara, and said his father’s physical decline had included curvature of the spine and subsequent medical problems.
    — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
  • An ant living deep inside the snow globe can’t easily detect any curvature, and therefore can’t tell the difference between anti-de Sitter and de Sitter space.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of curvature
Verb
  • Children today are growing up around AI, robots and devices that once belonged to science fiction, and Yoshida concedes that reality has, in some ways, caught up with Doraemon’s gadgets.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The network apologized; Rather defended the report initially but conceded after several weeks that the materials should not have been used.
    — Walter Podrazik, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of concede
Verb
  • Lefty Tanner Scott, whom Roberts plans to use in a fireman role, surrendered a two-run homer to Ozzie Albies in the ninth.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • As part of the plea deal this week, Evans agreed to surrender his law enforcement officer license, court records show.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of surrender
Verb
  • Terracotta tiles are at his feet; behind him is a gnarled pine tree, arching toward the sea.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Its initial trajectory after stage separation will put the spacecraft on the same course as previous flights, arching toward a reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of arch

Phrases Containing bow

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bovine
bow
bowdlerization
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Cite this Entry

“Bow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bow. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bow

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