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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Recent Examples of bow out
Like her mother, Lila Moss was resplendent in a black beaded confection that had an air of flapper—family friend Kim Jones decreed this a trend before bowing out at Fendi—but still looked timeless for party season in 2024.
—
Alice Newbold, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2024
Even with proper seeding, Oregon may have bowed out in the semifinals.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
Although the show's star, Kevin Costner, bowed out early, his character not appearing in the new episodes, fans tuned in in record-breaking numbers.
—Emily Trainham, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead, stay for the first 30 to 40 minutes and then bow out.
—Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bow out 
Alice Newbold, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2024
Even with proper seeding, Oregon may have bowed out in the semifinals.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
Although the show's star, Kevin Costner, bowed out early, his character not appearing in the new episodes, fans tuned in in record-breaking numbers.
—Emily Trainham, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead, stay for the first 30 to 40 minutes and then bow out.
—Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bow out
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Cite this Entry
“Bow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bow%20out. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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