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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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
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 Even the King's children follow suit, and Prince William has been seen bowing his head to say hello to his father and stepmother. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026 According to reporting by The New York Times, protesters accuse Kenyan officials of bowing to Trump at the expense of allowing a deadly virus into the country, accepting Americans that America itself refuses to take in. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026 The boat slid downstream, the water creating a lane lined with lily pads and gently bowing water grass. — John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026 Trae Young won Madison Square Garden’s undying enmity in the 2021 playoffs for the Atlanta Hawks, punctuating game-breaking shots by shushing the crowd or bowing to the fans and waving goodbye. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 9 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
  • Cape Verde made it to the knockout round and twice evened the score against three-time champion Argentina on Saturday in the round of 32 before succumbing in extra time.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
  • On Thursday at Wimbledon, a couple of players were unable to do so, succumbing to Nadal’s Law.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of succumbing
Verb
  • In a letter believed to be written around June 30, two days after submitting the draft of the Declaration, Jefferson asked Edmund Pendleton, president of the Virginia Convention, for someone to replace him at the Continental Congress.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • The facility is experienced in submitting documentation and claims to the VA’s Foreign Medical Program on behalf of eligible veterans.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Definition of submitting
Verb
  • The route is winding and rolling, ducking inland through forest and prairie before curving back to hug the lake’s shoreline, with lots of turnoffs to stop and take in the views.
    — Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 9 July 2026
  • His update on the C-cut began just below the chin, with extra lift at the roots and inward-curving lengths that narrowed toward the ends to create the illusion of a heart.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
Definition of curving
Verb
  • The two-time Emmy winner penned 10 episodes of Vince Gilligan’s landmark crime series before staying with Sony/AMC to shepherd four seasons of the genre-bending Preacher.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026
  • Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s appearance in the Royal Box is another example of bending the rules, as typically, children aren’t permitted in the exclusive seating area.
    — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 12 July 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
  • France has bludgeoned the opposition, scoring 16 goals while conceding just two.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
  • With halftime approaching, rookie defender Cate Hardin mistimed a challenge on Summit forward Ally Brazier inside the box, conceding a penalty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 July 2026
Definition of conceding
Verb
  • Iris van Herpen incorporated plasma into her final look, Helix Nebula, through two glass tubes arching around the shoulders of the dress.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 10 July 2026
  • Pay Attention to Plant Form Plants come in a wide range of shapes, from arching to columnar to spreading.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 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 15 Jul. 2026.

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