[go: up one dir, main page]

bow out

verb

bowed out; bowing out; bows out
Synonyms of bow outnext

intransitive verb

: retire, withdraw
also : lose
bowed out in the first round of the tournament

Examples of bow out in a Sentence

quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When his partner bowed out, Levin joined the Navy at age 21. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026 The current, third-gen RDX will bow out in just a few months, the automaker has confirmed. Adam Ismail, The Drive, 14 Jan. 2026 For Democrats, Walz’s decision to bow out might be a blessing, politically. Amie Parnes, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026 The Chargers will bow out Sunday, after being reminded that the Mike Vrabel-Drake Maye Patriots are shaping up to be almost as difficult an obstacle as the Belichick-Brady bunch was … and the weather ain’t getting any warmer in Foxborough in January. Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bow out

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bow out was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bow%20out. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!