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Synonyms

bow out

British  
/ baʊ /

verb

  1. to retire or withdraw gracefully

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bow out Idioms  
  1. 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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some lawmakers, seeming to recognize the risks of letting the vagaries of aging and health determine the country’s political fate, have opted to bow out.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

“We will all bow out someday but hopefully not anytime soon,” added Art, a friend since junior high who’s the Mexiclan’s resident Aristotle.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Wiener is also up against Connie Chan, a county supervisor and former Kamala Harris aide—the only major candidate who waited for Pelosi to bow out before opting in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Should he bow out, Boland is expected to lead the assault alongside Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

From Barron's • Oct. 25, 2025

She showed him how to creep soundlessly forward, knees to the ground; pushing the bow out in front of her to minimize her movement, she took aim.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

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