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Glite Dictionary
🙇 To bend forward 🙇 A respectful bend 🎀 A ribbon knot 🏹 Arrow weapon 🤲 To give in 🚢 Front of ship 🎻 Instrument stick 🎻 To play strings ➰ A curved shape
to bow

to bow

158 1.7
To bend the head forward to show respect
  • verb
  • /baʊ/
: inclinarse
  • So, let's all bow our heads in a silent prayer as our little candidates step onto the stage.
  • bow one's head

And again, I always bow to the wisdom of Stephen King.

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Examples

Synonyms

to bow down
vsto bow
52 3.7

Lower your head or body to show respect, often as a sign that you obey someone

is mainly a physical forward gesture used for greeting or respect
to take a bow
vsto bow
21 3.7

Bend forward to thank people who clap for you

is broader, used for greeting respect or submission outside performances
to curtsy
vsto bow
7 6.5

To lower the body slightly by bending the knees as a polite greeting, often by women

is a head or upper body forward gesture for respect rather than knee bending
to incline
vsto bow
7 4.4

To bend your head or upper body as a sign of respect

is used specifically to show respect greeting or submission
to bend the knee
vsto bow
2 8.4

To show loyalty and obey a powerful person

is a wider greeting or respect gesture not only a formal act of submission
to make one's bow
vsto bow
1 7.2

To come on stage at the end of a show and thank the audience

is the general gesture for respect or greeting not limited to audiences

Idioms

to take a bow
21 3.7

Bend forward to thank people who clap for you

a shot across the bow
3 7.7

An early warning action or comment showing a stronger response may follow

to bow and scrape
  • Archaic
3 9.4

Behave too politely and humbly to please someone

bow chicka wow wow
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A playful phrase that copies cheesy music to show a flirty mood

to make one's bow
1 7.2

To come on stage at the end of a show and thank the audience

to go to the bow-wows
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To become ruined and fail completely

to the bow-wows
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To end in ruin or complete failure

to make one's bow
  • Formal
1 7.9

To appear in public for the first time in an important role

to bow down before the porcelain god
  • Informal
9.9

To vomit into a toilet after drinking too much

to pull the long bow
  • Archaic
9.1

To tell a story in a way that makes what happened sound bigger or not true

string to one's bow
  • UK
8.5

An extra skill someone can use later

Phrasal Verbs

to bow down
52 3.7

Lower your head or body to show respect, often as a sign that you obey someone

to bow out
24 4.9

To stop doing a job or role politely

to bow respectfully
1 3.9

Bend your upper body forward from the waist to show respect

Compounds

bow tie
45 2.8

A small necktie tied in a bow, worn for formal events

bow and arrow
32 3.3

A weapon using a curved bow to shoot arrows for hunting or fighting

violin bow
2 4.0

A thin curved stick with horsehair used to play the violin by drawing it across the strings

bow leg
2 7.1

Legs that curve outward below the knee so the knees stay apart when the feet are together

bow legs
1 7.0

Legs that curve outward at the knees so the feet and ankles touch while the knees are apart

Cupid's bow
  • Literature
1 8.0

A curved weapon for shooting arrows with tips that curve outward

bow window
1 4.7

A window that sticks out from a wall in a gentle curve to give more light and space

Cupid's bow
1 8.1

A double curve of the upper lip that looks like a small bow

down-bow
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A bow movement from the part near your hand toward the tip when playing a string instrument

Bow Street Runner
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A member of London's first organized police force from the mid 1700s to the early 1800s

up-bow
  • Specialized
1 9.3

An upward movement of the bow from tip toward the hand when playing violin or cello

bow wood
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small tree with hard orange wood used to make bows

mouth bow
9.9

A flexible bow held between the teeth and plucked to make music

sound bow
  • Specialized
9.9

Thick part of a bell that the metal piece inside hits to make it ring

How Respectful

kowtow
1 9.9
to genuflect
  • Formal
6 9.9
to bow
158 1.7
to curtsy
7 6.5
to nod
521 1.0

Surface Forms

bow infinitive
bending present participle
bows third person singular
bent past
bent past participle

Etymology

Bow as a verb, 'to bend the head or body', comes from an old English verb bugan meaning 'to bend'. That is why to bow is to move your body forward in respect or greeting.