Cower
'kaʊər
Definitions
To crouch or shrink away in fear or shame.
'kaʊər
To crouch or shrink back in fear or shame.
The child cowered in the corner during the argument.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're walking in the park, and suddenly a big dog barks at you. You might cower, which means you duck down a bit or move back because you're scared. It's like when you're afraid of something, and you try to make yourself smaller.
👶 For kids: To crouch down because you're scared.
More Examples
The underdog cowered before the imposing opponent.
The prisoners cowered at the sight of the guards.
How It's Used
"Witnesses cowered in fear during the robbery."
"The dog cowered at the sound of thunder."
From Middle English couren, cowren, from Old Norse kúga ('to crouch, cower, oppress').
The word 'cower' appears frequently in historical texts describing acts of submission or fear, particularly in accounts of warfare or social hierarchy.
Memory tip
Think of a coward, which starts like "cower", and they might cower in a scary situation.
Word Origin
"to crouch, crouch down, be afraid"