to bow
132
1.7
- 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.
- And again, I always bow to the wisdom of Stephen King.
- In that video, we bow to you Rihanna, we bow to you, Jessica Rabbit.
- Let the nomads of the desert bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
Examples
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Let's bow our heads in prayer.
-
During the ceremony, he will bow as the audience applauds.
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And bow your head and close your eyes.
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You bow down before him.
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Let us bow our heads.
-
Let us bow our heads in prayer.
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I think we all ought to bow our heads... ...and give a prayer of thanks for our deliverance.
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Even the most heroic heroes in China, the Furious Five, bowed in respect to this great master.
-
Bow your head.
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"The girls applauded Mr. Shevvington, who bowed and escorted each girl into the formal dining room.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
30
3.7
Lower your head or body to show respect, often as a sign that you obey someone
14
3.7
Bend forward to thank people who clap for you
7
6.5
To lower the body slightly by bending the knees as a polite greeting, often by women
1
8.4
To show loyalty and obey a powerful person
1
4.4
To bend your head or upper body as a sign of respect
To come on stage at the end of a show and thank the audience
Idioms
4
7.7
An early warning action or comment showing a stronger response may follow
- Archaic
To tell a story in a way that makes what happened sound bigger or not true
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
1
4.0
A thin curved stick with horsehair used to play the violin by drawing it across the strings
- Archaic
1
9.9
A member of London's first organized police force from the mid 1700s to the early 1800s
1
4.7
A window that sticks out from a wall in a gentle curve to give more light and space
Legs that curve outward at the knees so the feet and ankles touch while the knees are apart
Legs that curve outward below the knee so the knees stay apart when the feet are together
- Specialized
A bow movement from the part near your hand toward the tip when playing a string instrument
- Specialized
An upward movement of the bow from tip toward the hand when playing violin or cello
How Respectful
Surface Forms
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.