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bowing

bowing

1 2.7
Bending the head or upper body forward to show respect
  • noun
  • /ˈbaʊɪŋ/
translation icon : inclinación
  • At the end of the performance, the dancers all engaged in a deep bowing to thank the audience.

Examples

  • In another section, the General Instruction lays out norms for genuflection and bowing.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Ours was designed to be a life of servitude and worship and bowing and scraping and adoration.

  • Forget the speeches for now and we'll concentrate on the bowing.

  • Breck gave a bowing salute.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • "That was the most amazing bowing I've ever seen," Austin declared.

    Blog text (5)
  • There was much ceremonial bowing between the sides of the groom and the bride, hosts and guests.

    Academic text (2004)
  • She moves to Ramon and corrects his bowing position.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Young violinists master the bowing of a Suzuki piece they are learning by playing "air violin"—that is, silently imitating the push-pull of the bow while I play the piece.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Before dinner, they performed a traditional bowing to show respect to their elders.

  • In Japanese culture, bowing is a common way to greet someone politely.

Synonyms

salute
vsbowing
  • Formal
83 4.0

A formal gesture showing respect, like raising a hand or bowing

is a general, everyday forward gesture rather than a strictly formal or military sign
bow
vsbowing
53 1.0

An act of bending the head forward to show respect

expresses shame or submission in addition to greeting
scrape
vsbowing
  • Archaic
8 9.9

A deep formal bow made by moving one foot back to show respect

is usually a simpler, less formal forward gesture
obeisance
vsbowing
  • Literature
3 9.9

A small gesture like a bow that shows respect or obedience

refers specifically to bending the head or upper body rather than any gesture
scraping
vsbowing
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A deep bow made by moving one foot back to show respect

is a normal forward bend and not usually meant as exaggerated humility

Antonyms

162 1.0

The act of staying upright on your feet

Compounds

spiccato bowing
  • Specialized
9.9

A way of playing where the bow bounces lightly on the strings, making short separate notes

How Deep

prostration
1 9.0
genuflection
1 9.9
deep
19 6.4
bowing
1 2.7
to nod
442 1.0

Surface Forms

bowing singular
bowings plural

Morphology

bowing = bow (transparent) = bow + ing

A gerundial noun derived from the verb 'bow' meaning the act of bending; the meaning is directly derivable from the verb.

Etymology

Bowing comes from the old verb bow, meaning 'to bend down' as a greeting or sign of respect. That's why bowing is the simple act of bending the head or upper body to show respect, greeting, or shame.