cower
Americanverb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have coweredperfect
-
has coweredperfect 3rd person singular
-
is coweringprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am coweringprogressive 1st person singular
-
has been coweringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are coweringprogressive
-
have been coweringperfect progressive
-
coweringparticiple
-
cowerssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had coweredperfect
-
had been coweringperfect progressive
-
was coweringprogressive singular
-
were coweringprogressive plural
-
coweredparticiple
-
coweredsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of cower
1250–1300; Middle English couren; cognate with Norwegian, Swedish kūra, Middle Low German kūren, German kauern
Explanation
To cower is to shrink in fear. Whether they live in the country or city, any mouse will cower when a huge, hungry cat approaches. When you cower, you're not just afraid. You're so terrified that your whole body cringes, crouches, and shrinks in on itself to hide from the source of your fear. Victims of a school bully might cower whenever he comes near, and a law-breaking peasant might cower when brought before a cruel king. Although a coward might cower in fear, the two words aren't related.
Vocabulary lists containing cower
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Of Mice and Men
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
He shared videos from street demonstrations, describing them as "in defence of the Homeland" and added: "Our people do not cower."
From BBC • May 2, 2026
After 36 hours in our care, Bob still had not peed, pooped, eaten, or done much of anything beyond cower.
From Slate • Sep. 4, 2025
Ten 6-week-old piglets cower together in the corner of a gated pen spread with straw.
From Science Magazine • Dec. 7, 2023
“We remain steadfast in support of the Jewish people. The people of Los Angeles will not cower to hate.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2023
No need to cower behind a gate-post, indeed!—to peep up at chamber lattices, fearing life was astir behind them!
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
