curtsy

American  

[kurt-see] / ˈkɜrt si /

Or curtsey

noun

• curtsies
  plural

1. a respectful bow made by women and girls, consisting of bending the knees and lowering the body.

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verb (used without object)

curtsied, curtsying

1. to make a curtsy.

curtsy British  

/ ˈkɜːtsɪ /

noun

1. a formal gesture of greeting and respect made by women in which the knees are bent, the head slightly bowed, and the skirt held outwards

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verb

1. (intr) to make a curtsy

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• curtsies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of curtsy

First recorded in 1520–30; variant of courtesy

Explanation

A curtsy is an old-fashioned half-bow that shows extreme respect. A woman or girl is generally expected to curtsy when meeting the Queen of England. There aren't many opportunities these days to curtsy, stepping forward with one foot, slightly bending both knees, and lowering your head. You're much more likely to read a reference to a curtsy in an old book or observe an actor curtsy on a stage than to see people curtsy in real life. The word curtsy sounds a little bit like courtesy, and that's exactly where it comes from.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

curtsy curtsies curtsied curtsying

Valerie’s career is a long curtsy to declining standards and compromises; her 2014 journey thumbed its nose at the town’s prestige-chasing.

From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026

She took the daughters to swimming lessons, taught them to curtsy and helped arrange membership for them in the Brownies and Girl Guides.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026

"I don't know, I just do. When you love it, you do it, right? 'Don't sleep, don't eat, just do it on repeat,' to quote myself," she said with a mock curtsy.

From Barron's ● Jan. 24, 2026

All you can do is curtsy and move on to the next category.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2025

Then she paced with dignity to the birdbath and with a curtsy presented them to Nefertiti.

From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

It stops with a symphony of delicate squeals, and sometimes curtsies to let people with wheelchairs and canes get out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2019

“The lady typically curtsies, keeping her eyes up. A gentleman bows with his eyes cast down.”

From Reuters ● Aug. 21, 2018

Though curtsies are a thing of the past, the Royal Box remains a prominent part of the Centre Court pageantry.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 13, 2018

Even the midnight quadrille—for all its formality and playacting at courtly introductions—devolved for Viennese and tourists alike from an artful series of nods and curtsies into a galloping crash of champagne-soaked turns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 8, 2016

Only imagine how Mrs. Lapham would come running, dropping nervous curtsies, when he drove up in that ruby coach!

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

“He’s so polite. We appreciate that. We’re from a generation that curtsies and says please and thank you,” said Mom, who I’m certain has never curtsied.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

“I wanted to be here to be part of history. I curtsied in front of her coffin,” 9-year-old Delainie White said, explaining that she felt it was important to be there to pay her respects.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2022

Most bowed their heads, some curtsied and others blew kisses.

From New York Times ● Sep. 17, 2022

The prime minister curtsied as she was ushered in by a royal aide for the first of what will be their regular weekly encounters.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2022

I curtsied slightly, conscious of the few threads barely holding me together.

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Her most famous role was to present the trophies at Wimbledon, where - it was reported - she was instrumental in ending the tradition of players bowing and curtsying when passing the royal box.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2025

Meghan likens curtsying for the Queen to visiting Medieval Times.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2022

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was seen curtsying to the coffin, are among dignitaries who have already paid their respects.

From Reuters ● Sep. 18, 2022

“It’s like curtsying to the queen. There’s no law that requires it. It’s just a matter of whether or not you choose to do it,” Twomey said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 11, 2022

Mother was so nervous, she backed into the trestle table while curtsying.

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine