as in fell
to undergo defeat
quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition
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Recent Examples of bowed out
Netflix bowed out of the race in late February, when Paramount made a new offer that topped Netflix’s final bid and the streamer drew the line at going any higher.
—
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Under pressure from his party, Swalwell bowed out of the governor’s race Sunday — and then the House on Monday.
—Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Hansi Flick’s side bowed out despite a stirring recovery after losing the first leg 2-0.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
In late February, Ellison’s Paramount Skydance prevailed in a nearly six-month bidding war after Netflix unexpectedly bowed out when the elder Ellison agreed to financially back his son’s $111-billion deal.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Video from the scene shows a pile of concrete rubble in a stairwell, with bowed out walls on the side of the well.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
In 2023, before a sublime run to the title, UConn went 14-8 in the Big East and bowed out to Marquette in the conference semifinals.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Coach Mark Few’s Zags bowed out in the second round for the second straight year after reaching the Sweet 16 in nine consecutive tournaments, a run that included two losses in the national title game.
—Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
The sinkhole didn’t appear to be connected to any public utilities, so the organization bowed out, Krul said.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Under pressure from his party, Swalwell bowed out of the governor’s race Sunday — and then the House on Monday.
—Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Hansi Flick’s side bowed out despite a stirring recovery after losing the first leg 2-0.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
In late February, Ellison’s Paramount Skydance prevailed in a nearly six-month bidding war after Netflix unexpectedly bowed out when the elder Ellison agreed to financially back his son’s $111-billion deal.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Video from the scene shows a pile of concrete rubble in a stairwell, with bowed out walls on the side of the well.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
In 2023, before a sublime run to the title, UConn went 14-8 in the Big East and bowed out to Marquette in the conference semifinals.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Coach Mark Few’s Zags bowed out in the second round for the second straight year after reaching the Sweet 16 in nine consecutive tournaments, a run that included two losses in the national title game.
—Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
The sinkhole didn’t appear to be connected to any public utilities, so the organization bowed out, Krul said.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowed out
Verb
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In the piece, the Vicar of Christ is felled not by his oppressors but rather by a random cosmic event.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Jeff Shell, now felled from his presidency of Paramount, is living proof.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Spurs were down by two in the second quarter when Wemby left and lost 106-103.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Yeah, that’s been lost, which is strange.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Their arrival comes after the team’s bullpen faltered twice in the late innings over the weekend in Cincinnati’s series sweep.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Red Sox ace faltered early by allowing a couple of doubles, but from there the left-hander settled down and seemed to find his groove.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bowed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowed%20out. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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