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

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Etymology

Origin of curtsy

First recorded in 1520–30; variant of courtesy

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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

Izzy grinned and walked over, making a little curtsy.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

“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

The young woman in the sepia-toned photograph curtsies gracefully, inclining her head and smiling sweetly at the camera.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2022

“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

We both gave respectful curtsies, though I couldn’t help but add a few bows at the same time, which might have given me the appearance of a whooping crane in courting season.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

“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

Standing in a shadowy archway on a bridge leading into Broughton Castle in Oxfordshire, England, sheep nibbling the grass below, Julianne Moore curtsied deeply, lowering her eyes before a splendidly gowned woman.

From New York Times ● Mar. 29, 2024

At a Big Coronation Lunch in Canterbury, a woman in a union jack dress curtsied when she met Archbishop Justin Welby.

From BBC ● May 7, 2023

“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

So I was quite proficient by the time I curtsied to the queen and Prince Philip.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

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

And out there, three wetsuit-hooded surfers are just visible in the frigid waters, their boards bowing and curtsying in the swells.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 20, 2023

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

On the inside of the paper there’s a full page of her, with women curtsying to her, little girls presenting bouquets of flowers.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

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