as in loses
to undergo defeat
quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition
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Recent Examples of bows out
Herman said in many ways, the state law is more stringent than the Clean Water Act, so even if the EPA bows out of regulating Southern California’s ditch system, the state’s rules might prevent pollution from flowing.
—
Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
Behold the golden-orange horizon over Kitt Peak National Observatory, a fiery twilight moment where day bows out and the stars prepare their grand entrance.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Vegas ends up in a wild-card spot and bows out in the opening round.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The news comes as the Weeknd bows out.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
That’s right, Foundation season three bows out with a shot at Earth itself and two robots living on the moon.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
In an Instagram reel posted on her page (also shared by YouTube page My Husband is My Best Friend), the Basketball Wives LA star is sipping wine and engaging in tourist behavior like exploring monumental cathedrals with the Sacramento Kings coach before summer 2025 bows out.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
Behold the golden-orange horizon over Kitt Peak National Observatory, a fiery twilight moment where day bows out and the stars prepare their grand entrance.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Vegas ends up in a wild-card spot and bows out in the opening round.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The news comes as the Weeknd bows out.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
That’s right, Foundation season three bows out with a shot at Earth itself and two robots living on the moon.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
In an Instagram reel posted on her page (also shared by YouTube page My Husband is My Best Friend), the Basketball Wives LA star is sipping wine and engaging in tourist behavior like exploring monumental cathedrals with the Sacramento Kings coach before summer 2025 bows out.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bows out
Verb
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The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
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Independent film legend John Cassavetes helmed this gritty crime drama about strip club owner Cosmo Vittelli (Ben Gazzara), who, shortly after making his last gambling debt payment, loses tens of thousands of dollars in a poker game.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Verb
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No two film or TV shoots are alike, as each director and team of department heads have to find their own unique rhythm that falls somewhere on a spectrum between meticulous storyboarding and completely improvising on set.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
6 June 2026
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For elderly patients, prolonged stays in hallways increase the risks of delirium, falls, sleep deprivation, loss of dignity, and prolonged recovery.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Such investors might be more inclined to dump their shares if the company's growth falters, rather than ride out the storm, Grelck said.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
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Sometimes, things get a bit heavy-handed, and while there’s certainly room for museums to bear the stamp of their founders, as do the Frick Collection in New York, the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and many others, Alice Walton’s vision sometimes falters in execution.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bows out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows%20out. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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