bow out

verb

bowed out; bowing out; bows out

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.
Steve Soboroff bowed out as L.A.’s fire recovery czar, with some parting shots. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025 Martha Stewart had been invited along as well, but business obligations forced her to bow out of the festivities last minute. Erinn Springer, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025 Should Harris decide to enter the race, Porter would bow out, her spokesperson has said. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025 Georgia bowed out of the men's NCAA basketball tournament Thursday with a 89-68 loss to Gonzaga (mascot: Bulldogs) in the first round. Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025 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 29 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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