# Bowles

/ˈboʊɫz/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bowles
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

to bend your head or body forward to show respect or to say thank you. You often see this at the end of a performance or when meeting someone important.

For teachers: to bend the head or upper body forward as a gesture of respect, greeting, or submission. Often used intransitively to describe a performer's action after a show.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He bowed the king" but "He bowed to the king" — When the action is directed at a person, the verb requires the preposition 'to'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is often followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating the recipient of the gesture.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.