bowing 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of bowingnext
as in nodding
bending downward or forward the bowing blossoms indicated that the petunia plant desperately needed water

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bowing

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of bow
1
as in succumbing
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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2
as in submitting
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) bowed to the craving for fresh coffee

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bowing

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of bow
1
as in curving
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 bending
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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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 bowing
Verb
At Night will have a North American premiere in Toronto after bowing in Locarno. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, bowing to mounting pressure after tens of thousands of students and supporters took to the streets demanding his removal and sweeping reforms to India’s examination system. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 Winds gusted up to 80 miles per hour, bowing palm trees and knocking down power lines that sparked the fires. — Angus Chen, STAT, 22 July 2026 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired his commander in chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, on Tuesday, bowing to pressure after the removal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked the fiercest leadership crisis of his presidency. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 July 2026 An adventure bowing to higher authority, raising yourself above nothing and no one. — Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 China and Japan are part of the offshore suite opening Friday, with France and Belgium bowing next weekend. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 June 2026 Set to debut in October, the Seville ‘Luminiscence’ marks the third city in Spain to host the global immersive phenomenon, after bowing in San Sebastián at its Buen Pastor Cathedral and in Barcelona, where a total 115,000 people have attended over 500 performances in a first season run. — John Hopewell, Variety, 22 June 2026 His coworker once spotted a fan on their knees, bowing toward the entrance gate near the property. — Leah Willingham, Fortune, 21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowing
  1. nodding
  2. succumbing
  3. submitting
  4. curving
  5. bending
  6. weeping
  7. conceding
  8. arching
Adjective
  • James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.
    — Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Definition of nodding
Verb
  • In November 2008, after surviving two months longer than it was designed to, the Phoenix Mars Lander fell silent, succumbing to the harsh Martian winter.
    — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • So far there’s no sign of that, and time is running out, although to its credit the EU, with its Industrial Accelerator Act, wants urgent action to save local automakers from succumbing to ballooning Chinese sales.
    — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of succumbing
Verb
  • Since 2009, a total of 23 actors in the comedy and drama categories have won by submitting season-finale episodes.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Comey’s lawyers are pressing to have the case dismissed, accusing the department of misleading judges, submitting documents containing false statements and withholding key facts.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of submitting
Verb
  • Similar to other colubrids, this species possesses a Duvernoy’s gland—a venom gland located behind the eyes and connected by a tube to grooved, backward-curving teeth at the back of the upper jaw.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Mary’s body echoes the shape of the frame, curving around Jesus, her gaze following his.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of curving
Verb
  • The source material is one of the most influential Japanese comics of all time, a trailblazing, gender-bending story of heroism and sacrifice.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends teaching children to pick up and carry backpacks safely, including bending at the knees rather than the waist when lifting heavier bags to avoid strain.
    — Cheyanne Mumphrey, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of bending
Adjective
  • And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
    — David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
  • The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
    — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Definition of weeping
Verb
  • Last week, the company agreed to hold the merger until five days after a trial verdict or June 1, 2027, whichever comes first, canceling the injunction hearing and conceding the calendar to its opponents.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Since conceding the mayoral race in June, Pratt has continued to use his social media platforms to weigh in on political issues, particularly Los Angeles' addiction, homelessness and public safety crises.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of conceding
Verb
  • The combination of a moonless sky and the Milky Way arching overhead could make this the standout night for skywatching all year.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The name comes from the footlong, fluffy white flower clusters at the ends of arching stems.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Definition of arching

Browse Nearby Words

bowie knifes
bowing
bowing out
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Cite this Entry

“Bowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowing. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bowing

Nglish: Translation of bowing for Spanish Speakers

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