BOW OUT Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

bow out

verb

Definition of bow out

as in to lose

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

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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 Trailing by 13 points in the fourth quarter, Kansas’ alumni men’s basketball team looked as if it was destined to drop its second game in two nights to Kansas State and bow out of the TBT mighty early. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 Vingegaard is extremely unlikely to bow out like Chris Froome, who confirmed his retirement two days before the start of the Tour, aged 41, after struggling at Israel-Premier Tech for the past five years. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 July 2026 As for Lionel Messi, the legend failed to influence the game and bowed out of the tournament with a silver medal. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 20 July 2026 He was brought in to get England over the line in this type of situation, but his negative tactics contributed to the team bowing out yet again. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bow out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bow out

Verb

José Ramírez loses his bat during the game on June 2, 2026 at Yankee Stadium.

— Katie Houlis, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Data from the Office of Personnel Management shows that the agency lost more than 3,300 staff, roughly one-quarter of its total workforce, over the past fiscal year.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of lose

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bowmen

bow out

bows

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“Bow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bow%20out. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of bow out

verb

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