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.
Though Pete Davidson had been scheduled to board a rocket in 2022, the comedian bowed out due to scheduling. Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 27 Feb. 2025 After a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump that sent Democrats panicking over his mental acuity, Biden ultimately bowed out of the race in July, leaving Democrats with just 107 days before the election to find a new nominee and build a winning campaign. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025 One of the most controversial figures in modern Star Wars could be bowing out by the end of 2025 according to a new report. Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 As 9-1-1: Lone Star bowed out after five seasons, the popular first-responder franchise will stay in the South with another offshoot. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Feb. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bow%20out. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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