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.
This is its 20th show, a good time to bow out, Zoller said. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2025 At some point, maybe as soon as next season, Olsen could ascend to the No. 1 role again for Fox if Brady bows out to take a more publicly active role in trying to rebuild the Raiders. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025 Andy Murray bows out of professional tennis after playing his final game at the event. The Week Uk, theweek, 25 Dec. 2024 Some figured Johnson would exit a year ago after the Lions bowed out in the NFC title game. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near bow out

Cite this Entry

“Bow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bow%20out. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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