as in nodding
bending downward or forward
the bowing blossoms indicated that the petunia plant desperately needed water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in submitting
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Leah Willingham, Fortune, 21 June 2026
Season 7 was a huge hit in France, bowing to a 37% share in the 4-14 demographic.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 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
In March, James posted a photo on social media of him and his Heat teammates bowing their heads while wearing hooded sweatshirts.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 9 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
Target, too, recently found itself in the cultural crosshairs after bowing to external pressure to scrap its DEI policies.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Verb
His coworker once spotted a fan on their knees, bowing toward the entrance gate near the property.
—Leah Willingham, Fortune, 21 June 2026
Season 7 was a huge hit in France, bowing to a 37% share in the 4-14 demographic.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 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
In March, James posted a photo on social media of him and his Heat teammates bowing their heads while wearing hooded sweatshirts.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 9 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
Target, too, recently found itself in the cultural crosshairs after bowing to external pressure to scrap its DEI policies.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowing
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
Verb
-
Suddenly, Marjane succumbing to sorrow became achingly comprehensible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
-
The Spurs got off just three field goal attempts while succumbing to the Knicks’ defensive pressure.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Chiarella felt the onscreen passion between Bird and Clausen early on, when the pair was just submitting self-tapes.—
William Earl,
Variety,
19 June 2026
-
This data collection is required before submitting a construction permit application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The innovative Panoramic Display consists of a 48-inch screen curving from door to door along the base of the windshield.—
Robert Duffer,
AJC.com,
19 June 2026
-
Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon that occurs when an object of great mass comes between Earth and a distant background source, curving the fabric of spacetime.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Create Seedling Pots DIY seedling pots are super easy to make from cardboard paper towel tubes by bending in the base of the tube to create a solid bottom and filling it with soil.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
-
The midwife’s hand was a gender-bending invention of the Enlightenment, combining the intelligence and strength of a man’s touch with the sensitive delicacy of a woman’s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
With bowed heads, friends and classmates wrapped their arms around each other.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of your standard dress shoes, Styles finished the look with a perfect pair of minty-green ballet flats with bowed laces.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Panama outshot, outpassed and outpossessed Ghana in its first game but came away with nothing after conceding a goal in stoppage time, leaving the Central Americans still looking for their first World Cup win.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
Haiti, ranked 83rd and back in the World Cup after five decades, lost 1-0 to Scotland in a decent performance in its opener, but then was no rival for five-time champion Brazil, conceding three first-half goals before improving to hold its ground in the second half of a 3-0 loss.—
Tales Azzoni,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Choose grasses with tall, arching stems to set off the upright dahlia form.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2026
-
Lower back discomfort or tightness might be due to arching of your back, or your back muscles tacking on too much of the work to overcompensate for a lack of hip strength or control.—
Christa Sgobba,
Health,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowing. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
