bowed 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbau̇d How to pronounce bowed (audio)
Definition of bowednext
1
as in bowing
bending downward or forward the bowed branches of the weeping willow offered some protection from the rain

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2
as in lowered
directed down with bowed heads the mourners recited a prayer for the repose of her soul

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bowed

2 of 3

verb (1)

past tense of bow
1
as in succumbed
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) finally bowed to the judge's insistence that she change her outfit

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2
as in submitted
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) bowed to the craving for fresh coffee

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bowed

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of bow
1
as in curved
to turn away from a straight line or course the river bows gently to the north before it reaches the sea

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2
as in arched
to cause to turn away from a straight line you'll have to gently bow the strip of wood in order to fit it in

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bowed
Verb
Curry joined the cast when the show bowed in Chicago in 2004, and his three-year stint also included a stop in London. — Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 The Muppets have bowed in various formats over the years (films, TV specials and even the World Cup Final halftime show this summer). — Mya Copeland, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 Both men bowed their heads toward a Romanian-speaking interpreter who stood between them and translated the proceedings. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 At Victoria Park, where tens of thousands once gathered for the only large-scale public commemoration of the massacre in China, Tang bowed on the eve of the anniversary and read off a list of the victims in a low voice. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 The interactions between the two groups were lovely, as KiiiKiii bowed to their seniors and expressed their admiration to the XG members. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The late Queen’s youngest grandchild, who wore a dark suit for the event, took a position at the side of Elizabeth’s coffin and stood with his head bowed as mourners passed. — Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 Tempered by generations of poverty, war, and rank prejudice, so many Afghan women refuse to be bowed or broken. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026 In the center, a small stream ox-bowed its way along while chasing the sun through alders and gone-to-seed pastures. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowed
  1. nodding
  2. lowered
  3. succumbed
  4. submitted
  5. curved
  6. arched
  7. weeping
  8. downward
Adjective
  • James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.
    — Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Definition of nodding
Adjective
  • This isn’t the first study to link acupuncture with lowered symptoms of depression.
    — Korin Miller, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Coupled with the lowered JumboTron, seating that surrounds the court gives it a more intimate look, and plays better on TV.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of lowered
Verb
  • One of the most famously arid national landmarks succumbed to deadly flash flooding over the weekend, leaving at least one person dead and more than a dozen unaccounted for as more rain could lash Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on Monday.
    — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Latchford succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash, the release said.
    — Aaron Valdez, Fox 19 Cincinnati, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of succumbed
Verb
  • To date, patrons of the Central Arkansas Library System have submitted reconsideration requests only rarely.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The team submitted a referral to Valley Oasis, a provider of trauma and homeless services and housing, a spokesman for the county Department of Homeless Services and Housing said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of submitted
Verb
  • Several other curved, slender bones were soon found nearby, according to pictures shared with the station.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Thierry Henry curved away from defenders, Cristiano Ronaldo attacked their blind side and Kylian Mbappe outran them.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of curved
Verb
  • Engineers maintained extremely gentle gradients across long distances while using tunnels, channels, and arched bridges to cross uneven terrain.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The ceilings were arched and line with skylights, allowing natural light to illuminate the space.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of arched
Adjective
  • And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
    — David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
  • The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
    — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Definition of weeping
Adjective
  • Rocky Horror bucked an overall downward trend during the summer dog days, with grosses up $120,328 to $949,446 for the final week or original cast members Luke Evans, Stephanie Hsu and Andrew Durand.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But there has been a downward spike in youth confidence in the past few years.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of downward

Browse Nearby Words

bowdlerizing
bowed
bowed out
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Cite this Entry

“Bowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowed. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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