bows out

verb

present tense third-person singular of bow out
as in loses
to undergo defeat quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bows out England has reached the World Cup quarterfinals 10 times in the past, but that is often the round where the team bows out. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026 If Platner bows out and the Democrats put forth a new Senate nominee that turns off the progressive base, Coleman said that could change the tide of the general election, too. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 July 2026 Herman said in many ways, the state law is more stringent than the Clean Water Act, so even if the EPA bows out of regulating Southern California’s ditch system, the state’s rules might prevent pollution from flowing. — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026 Behold the golden-orange horizon over Kitt Peak National Observatory, a fiery twilight moment where day bows out and the stars prepare their grand entrance. — Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025 Vegas ends up in a wild-card spot and bows out in the opening round. — The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 The news comes as the Weeknd bows out. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025 That’s right, Foundation season three bows out with a shot at Earth itself and two robots living on the moon. — Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025 In an Instagram reel posted on her page (also shared by YouTube page My Husband is My Best Friend), the Basketball Wives LA star is sipping wine and engaging in tourist behavior like exploring monumental cathedrals with the Sacramento Kings coach before summer 2025 bows out. — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bows out
  1. loses
  2. falls
  3. falters
Verb
  • BetMGM is offering new users a chance to bet on today’s game and earn up to $1,500 if your first bet loses when using promo code FOXNEWS.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But what begins as a bold and daring attempt to broach progressive issues in a notoriously conservative society ultimately loses its nerve, acquiescing to a number of eyebrow-raising narrative compromises.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of loses
Verb
  • The January 16, 2027 slot once again falls the day after the end of nomination voting in the Academy Awards on January 15, and before the January 21 nominations announcement.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
  • As night falls, Kenny and Christina are over the moon about their trip.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of falls
Verb
  • Lucy’s constant sense of invention sometimes falters under the album’s new, megawatt spotlight, lacking the enticing mystery that gives their best music its power.
    — H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Power play falters For the first time this season, the Oilers power play was a no-show, going 0-for-3 in the first period.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of falters

Browse Nearby Words

bows
bows out
bows (to)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bows out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows%20out. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All