Definition

Verb: 1. To bend one's body or head forward, especially as a sign of respect, submission, or reverence. This involves a physical lowering of the head or upper body. 2. To submit or yield to someone or something, often under pressure or out of respect. This is a figurative use meaning to accept another's authority or will.

Usage and Examples

• Literal Physical Action:
  • The subjects were required to bow down before the emperor as a sign of loyalty.
  • She bowed down in prayer at the altar.
• Figurative Submission:
  • The dictator expected the entire nation to bow down to his commands.
  • He refused to bow down to the pressure from his critics.

Advanced Usage

• "bow down before/to (someone/something)": This prepositional phrase specifies the object of the respect or submission.
  • They bowed down before the sacred relic.
  • We will not bow down to tyranny.

Variants and Related Words

• Bow (verb): The base form, meaning to bend the head or upper body. "Bow down" often implies a deeper, more formal, or more submissive action than "bow" alone.
• Prostrate (verb): To lie flat on the ground face downward, especially in submission or worship. This is a more extreme physical act than bowing down.

Synonyms

• Kneel: To go down or rest on one or both knees.
• Submit: To accept or yield to a superior force or authority.
• Defer: To yield to someone else's judgment or opinion out of respect.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bow out: To withdraw or retire from a situation, competition, or job. () This is distinct from "bow down."

Related Idioms

• Bow and scrape: To behave in an excessively obedient or servile way. This idiom emphasizes overly flattering or fawning behavior beyond simply bowing down.

Verb

1. bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head
   • He bowed before the King
   • She bowed her head in shame
2. get into a prostrate position, as in submission