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Glite Dictionary
to bow respectfully

to bow respectfully

1 3.9
Bend your upper body forward from the waist to show respect
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : inclinarse respetuosamente
  • During the ceremony, attendees bowed respectfully to their elders as a sign of deference.

Examples

  • As the national anthem played, the students bowed respectfully in front of the flag.

  • "He started to smile and bowed respectfully.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • The smiths rose and bowed respectfully.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • He bowed respectfully to the Osraed.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • They each bow respectfully to their master (and that includes Raphael).

    Blog text (15)

  • In the dock, they addressed the leading magistrate as 'sir' or 'ma'am', heads bowed respectfully, trying to outdo each other in their courtesy.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • He bowed respectfully to the dignitary before delivering his speech.

Synonyms

to bend
vsto bow respectfully
194 1.0

To lean forward at the waist

is the same physical motion but done specifically to show respect or deference
to bow
vsto bow respectfully
132 1.7

To bend the head forward to show respect

is specifically a forward waist lean done to show deference rather than greet
to bow down
vsto bow respectfully
30 3.7

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

is a forward waist lean performed mainly to show polite respect or deference
to incline
vsto bow respectfully
1 4.4

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

is a forward waist lean performed to express respect or deference
to conge
vsto bow respectfully
  • Archaic
9.9

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

is a forward waist lean used to show respect, not only for formal farewells

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Respectful

to prostrate
6 8.1
to genuflect
  • Formal
5 9.9
to bow respectfully
1 3.9
to nod
442 1.0

Surface Forms

bow respectfully infinitive
bowed respectfully past
bowed respectfully past participle
bowing respectfully present participle
bows respectfully third person singular

Morphology

bow + respectfully

The meaning 'to bend one's upper body forward as a sign of respect' is directly and compositionally derived from 'bow' (to incline the head/upper body) combined with 'respectfully' (in a manner showing respect). This verb + manner-adverb pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Bow respectfully may come from old royal courts where people would bow, bending their upper body forward at the waist, to show honour to a king or important person. The clear image of lowering yourself to appear humble turned into the idea of showing 'respect', so the phrase now means to bend forward as a sign of respect.