Definition

1. Intransitive Verb:
   • To crouch or draw back in a position that shows fear, timidity, or submission. The action often involves lowering the body, hunching the shoulders, and trying to make oneself appear smaller.
   • To shrink away or recoil in fear from something or someone.

Usage

• cower is used to describe a physical reaction to a perceived threat, intimidation, or extreme discomfort. It implies a lack of courage or a desire to hide. It is typically followed by an adverb (e.g., ) or a prepositional phrase (e.g., , ).
• The subject is usually a person or an animal.

Examples

• The small dog would cower under the table whenever there was thunder.
• The hostages cowered in the dark room, terrified of their captors.
• She cowered behind the door, hoping not to be seen.

Advanced Usage

• "to cower before/at": to show fear in the presence of a specific person or thing.
  • The citizens were forced to cower before the tyrant.
• Used figuratively to describe a timid or submissive reaction that is not purely physical.
  • The company cowered under the threat of a lawsuit and quickly settled.

Variants and Related Words

• Cowering (adj, present participle): Describing someone in the act of cowering.
  • The cowering child was quickly comforted.
• Cowered (v, past tense and past participle).

Synonyms

• Cringe: To shrink back in fear or servility.
• Crouch: To stoop low with the limbs close to the body (can be neutral or fearful).
• Flinch: To make a quick, nervous movement from pain or fear.
• Quail: To feel or show fear or apprehension.
• Grovel: To behave in a servile or obsequious manner out of fear.

Antonyms

• Confront: To face in a hostile or defiant manner.
• Stand tall: To be brave and confident.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To make someone cower: To intimidate or frighten someone into a submissive posture.
  • His angry glare was enough to make anyone cower.
• Cower in fear/dread: A common collocation emphasizing the emotion.
  • They cowered in fear as the storm raged outside.

Verb

1. show submission or fear
2. crouch or curl up
   • They huddled outside in the rain