bow
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a knot with two loops used for decoration or to tie shoelaces.
n.a decorative knot consisting of two or more loops and two loose ends.
Simple“She tied a bright red bow on the birthday gift.”
In context“The child struggled to tie a neat bow on his sneakers, eventually settling for a messy double knot.”
UsagePronounced /boʊ/.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a wooden stick with hair stretched across it, used to play instruments like the violin.
n.a rod with horsehair stretched between its ends, used to vibrate the strings of a musical instrument.
Simple“The violinist applied rosin to her bow before the concert started.”
In context“The cellist drew the bow across the strings with such intensity that the entire auditorium seemed to vibrate with the opening chord.”
UsagePronounced /boʊ/.
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.the act of bending your head or body forward to show respect or say thank you.
n.a forward inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or submission.
Simple“The actors took a final bow as the audience cheered.”
In context“The diplomat offered a shallow bow to the monarch, adhering strictly to the traditional protocols of the court.”
UsagePronounced /baʊ/.
Synonymscurtsyreverence - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the front part of a boat or ship.
n.the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat.
Simple“Waves crashed against the bow of the ship during the storm.”
In context“The lookout stood at the bow, scanning the horizon for any sign of land through the thick morning fog.”
UsagePronounced /baʊ/. Often used in the plural 'the bows'.
- 05 A2 Elementary
v.to bend your head or body forward to show respect.
v.to incline the body or head in salutation, subjection, or reverence.
Simple“Everyone had to bow when the queen entered the room.”
In context“The monks would bow deeply before the altar each time they entered the sanctuary for prayer.”
UsagePronounced /baʊ/.
SynonymsgenuflectstoopAntonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to agree to do something because of pressure from others.
v.to submit or yield to pressure, authority, or a superior force.
Simple“The government refused to bow to the demands of the protesters.”
In context“Despite intense lobbying from the corporate sector, the senator refused to bow to political pressure and maintained her stance on the environmental bill.”
UsagePronounced /baʊ/. Often followed by the preposition 'to'.
“Airbus has bowed to employee demands on remote working, after a series of strikes over its chief executive’s return-to-the office orders.”
“The stern and central section appear to have been covered with the same material, while researchers identified three distinct coating batches at the bow.”