bow out

/ baʊ /

verb

1. to retire or withdraw gracefully

Idioms and Phrases

Depart, withdraw, resign, as in After five years as chairman, I felt it was time I bowed out, or We'll have to beat them; they'll never bow out. [First half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Italian Sinner took one hour and 35 minutes to see off spirited Shelton who bowed out of his debut Finals in Turin without a win from his three matches in the Bjorn Borg Group.

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Now, at 85, Pelosi is bowing out of elective politics altogether.

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Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels citizen crime patrol group, came in third after weeks of Cuomo insisting he bow out to increase his chances.

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Padilla’s decision to bow out of the 2026 governor’s race will leave a prominent name out of an already crowded contest with many contenders but not a clear favorite.

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The Reds bowed out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, beaten 3-0 at home by Crystal Palace after Slot elected to field a largely youthful and inexperienced team.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bail out 
• drop out 
• pull out 
• quit 
• retire 
• withdraw