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

Synonyms of bow out

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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.
Edmonton bowed out in the first round. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026 After Full House wrapped, Barber bowed out of the acting world for a few years. — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 Trump’s speech worked as a replacement for a series of musical artists who were scheduled to perform at the fair but bowed out over concerns the event had become partisan. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 Hazem Mastouri’s 54th-minute header gave Tunisia a consolation prize as the team bowed out of the tournament without recording a single point. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 25 June 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

Rhymes for bow out

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Browse Nearby Words

bow on
bow out
bow pen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bow%20out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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