Meaning & use
bow
To bend the head or upper body forward, especially as a gesture of respect or greeting.
See it in a sentence
The performers bowed to the audience after the final scene of the play.
He bowed slightly to the elderly guest as she entered the room.
A note on using this word
As a verb meaning to bend forward, 'bow' rhymes with 'cow'; the weapon and knot senses rhyme with 'go.'
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A weapon made of a curved piece of wood and a taut string, used to shoot arrows.
The archer drew back her bow and released the arrow toward the target.
3. noun
A knot with two loops, typically tied in ribbon, string, or shoelaces.
She tied the gift's ribbon into a neat bow before placing it under the tree.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bow”, then compare your use with the examples above.