as in losing
to undergo defeat
quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition
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Recent Examples of bowing out
Two weeks after bowing out in the quarterfinal to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, the American head coach announced plans to depart at the end of 2025.
—
Josh Gross, Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026
Investors are bowing out of high-growth technology stocks due to concerns about artificial intelligence’s impact on traditional enterprise software and mounting capital expenditures by mega-cap companies to build out their own AI offerings.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
The band remained steadfast in the commitment despite many other acts bowing out.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2026
McCaffrey was relied upon more than ever as the San Francisco powered through a litany of injuries to top players to finish the season 12-5, beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round before bowing out in the divisional round.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
But drummer/vibraphonist Chuck Redd — who has played at this three-day event at the Del Mar Hilton for nearly 20 consecutive years — is the first to make headlines around the world for bowing out of a performance.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
The North Carolina native appeared to reference bowing out of a potential feud with Kendrick Lamar and the backlash from it re-energizing him creatively, which led to a second disc for The Fall-Off and the aforementioned album cover.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Jan. 2026
The Traitors has cemented its status as the biggest draw on British television, bowing out with a record audience for a non-celebrity version of the BBC show.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2026
Selecting a location like the Hamptons in peak season might mean some guests will need to pay a high premium to attend a full wedding weekend and may end up bowing out of the festivities.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Josh Gross, Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026
Investors are bowing out of high-growth technology stocks due to concerns about artificial intelligence’s impact on traditional enterprise software and mounting capital expenditures by mega-cap companies to build out their own AI offerings.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
The band remained steadfast in the commitment despite many other acts bowing out.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2026
McCaffrey was relied upon more than ever as the San Francisco powered through a litany of injuries to top players to finish the season 12-5, beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round before bowing out in the divisional round.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
But drummer/vibraphonist Chuck Redd — who has played at this three-day event at the Del Mar Hilton for nearly 20 consecutive years — is the first to make headlines around the world for bowing out of a performance.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
The North Carolina native appeared to reference bowing out of a potential feud with Kendrick Lamar and the backlash from it re-energizing him creatively, which led to a second disc for The Fall-Off and the aforementioned album cover.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Jan. 2026
The Traitors has cemented its status as the biggest draw on British television, bowing out with a record audience for a non-celebrity version of the BBC show.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2026
Selecting a location like the Hamptons in peak season might mean some guests will need to pay a high premium to attend a full wedding weekend and may end up bowing out of the festivities.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowing out
Verb
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Sewald came to the Diamondbacks from the Seattle Mariners in a trade deadline deal in 2023 and helped the D-backs make a surprise run to the Fall Classic before losing to the Texas Rangers in five games.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Businesses are losing foot traffic, changing their hours or closing entirely.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Be cautious of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches, which can lead to snapping and falling hazards.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Unless regulators crack down on these deepfakes, the videos threaten to steer even more patients toward wasteful, potentially dangerous purchases — while further undermining the public’s already faltering trust in medical institutions.—
John Whyte,
STAT,
17 Feb. 2026
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The program also pledges to fulfill conditions for adopting the euro currency by 2030, and to invest in Hungary's faltering state health care and public transportation sectors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bowing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowing%20out. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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