Bowed
/baʊd/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo bend one's head or upper body, especially as a gesture of respect or politeness.
/baʊd/
To bend the head or body as a gesture of greeting, respect, or submission.
He bowed his head in prayer.
💡 Simply: To bend down as a sign of respect.
More Examples
The audience bowed to the performers.
How It's Used
"She bowed politely to the queen."
"The dancers bowed deeply at the end of their performance."
To bend or cause to bend.
/baʊd/
To bend or curve.
The heavy load bowed the beams.
💡 Simply: To bend or become curved.
More Examples
The flowers bowed their heads.
How It's Used
"The branches of the tree bowed under the weight of the snow."
Bent; curved.
/baʊd/
The bowed legs of the table were wobbly.
💡 Simply: Bent.
How It's Used
"The bowed violin string produced a beautiful sound."
Past tense of "bow." Derived from Old English *būgan, meaning "to bend." The modern uses reflect the various ways something can bend or be bent.
The word 'bow' and its past tense 'bowed' have been used consistently across centuries to describe both the act of bending and the state of being bent. Its usage in social contexts, such as bowing in respect, has remained largely unchanged.
Memory tip
Imagine a bow and arrow; the bow bends.