🙇 To take applause 🌟 To debut

to make one's bow

7.2

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

idiom

: hacer una reverencia

The cast gathered on stage to make their bow before the applauding audience.

Examples

The actor will make his bow at the end of the show.
She made her bow gracefully after the performance.
After a long and successful career, he decided to make his bow on Broadway.
The famous violinist will make his bow in New York next month.
The cast gathered on stage to make their bow before the applauding audience.
After a long and successful career, he decided to make his bow on Broadway.
She made her bow gracefully after the performance.

Synonyms

to bow down

vsto make one's bow

30 3.7

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

is used to appear before an audience and acknowledge them not to show submission

to take a bow

vsto make one's bow

14 3.7

Bend forward to thank people who clap for you

is about appearing before an audience and acknowledging them after a show

to bow respectfully

vsto make one's bow

1 3.9

Bend your upper body forward from the waist to show respect

is used for appearing before an audience and acknowledging them after performing

to conge

vsto make one's bow

Archaic

9.9

To bow in a formal way to show respect or say goodbye

is used to appear before an audience and acknowledge them rather than only ceremony

Antonyms

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

Surface Forms

make one's bow infinitive

making one's bow present participle

makes one's bow third person singular

made one's bow past

made one's bow past participle

Morphology

make + one + bow

The components 'make' + 'one's' + 'bow' literally point to performing a bow, so a learner who knows the words will likely infer it involves bowing or a formal gesture. However, the specific sense of 'making a public debut / presenting oneself publicly (especially for the first time)' and the idiomatic, somewhat formal register are extensions not fully predictable from the parts, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Make one's bow comes from performers stepping forward and bending to the audience—the bow—to show thanks after a show. That's why it means 'to appear before an audience and acknowledge it'.