curtsy

1 of 2

noun

curt·​sy ˈkərt-sē 

variants or less commonly curtsey

plural curtsies also curtseys

: an act of civility, respect, or reverence made mainly by women and consisting of a slight lowering of the body with bending of the knees

curtsy

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly curtsey

curtsied also curtseyed; curtsying also curtseying

intransitive verb

: to make a curtsy

Examples of curtsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Meghan’s infamous mock curtsy, which was seen as insulting… was [a] low point. —Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025

Charlotte's first-ever curtsy came as a toddler on the runway at Chopin Airport, in Warsaw, Poland, on July 19, 2017. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025

Verb

Kate Robertson, organizer of the summit, went to curtsy for the duchess, not expecting Meghan to try to hug her. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025

The TikTok post then pivots to Kate's curtsy to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during her wedding to Prince William in April 2011, again at the abbey followed by Kate and Meghan curtsying to the queen at Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2018. —Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of courtesy

First Known Use

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1553, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for curtsy

• curtsey

Kids Definition

curtsy

1 of 2 noun

curt·​sy

variants also curtsey

ˈkərt-sē

plural curtsies also curtseys

: a bow made especially by women that consists of a slight lowering of the body and bending of the knees

curtsy

2 of 2 verb

variants also curtsey

curtsied also curtseyed; curtsying also curtseying

: to make a curtsy