bow out

/ baʊ /

verb

1. adverb; usually troften foll byof 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

However, there's already some precedent in public pressure forcing a Trump nominee to bow out of consideration.

From Salon

The recently resigned representative has been keeping busy with Cameo since intense scrutiny of his nomination for attorney general led to him bowing out of consideration for Donald Trump's Cabinet.

From Salon

If I’m the Dodgers, I’m bowing out of the Soto sweepstakes.

From Los Angeles Times

Murray announced in the summer that the Paris Olympics would be his last tournament, and he made it to the quarter-finals of the men's doubles alongside Dan Evans before bowing out.

From BBC

The timing of his bowing out, coupled with a schedule tailored to keeping Biden off the debate stage, robbed Harris of one of her "best formats," according to Silver.

From Salon

Related Words

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