cower
verb (used without object)
to crouch, as in fear or shame.
cowering
-
present participleof cower.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
The image of a fluffy white dog cowering in a corner tugged on heartstrings across the globe.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
The enduring image of Ruben Amorim's 14-month tenure at Manchester United may well be the one of him cowering in the dugout at Grimsby.
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026
For Ms. Sweeney and Ms. Seyfried it provides an endless variety of opportunities to run through the soap-opera playbook of screaming, cowering, deceiving and attacking depending on the circumstances, which grow increasingly horrifying.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
On Friday, Musk shared two side-by-side A.I.-generated images of graffiti-style stencils: a smiling, handsome Kirk, and a cowering, dying Zarutska.
From Slate ● Sep. 12, 2025
Heaven only knows how she must have despised her pale rat of a cowering mistress.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
