bow out

as in to lose
to undergo defeat quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bow out Winning the division has not proven beneficial yet under the new postseason format, with the NL East champion bowing out in the Division Series (to an NL East wild card) in three consecutive years. Tim Britton, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025 Though the Vikings ultimately bowed out of the playoffs with a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the first round, the resume that O’Connell has put together speaks for itself. Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for bow out

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bow%20out. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!