kowtow
verb (used without object)
to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference.
kowtowed
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past participleof kowtow.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof kowtow.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
kowtowverb (used without object)to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference.
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.
To leave James alone on a first-round island might be unfair, but the Lakers have kowtowed to him plenty in his eight years here.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026
It kowtowed to every fashionable agenda to protect its independence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 8, 2026
“They kowtowed to this apparent superstar with poor results.”
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 31, 2024
David Brent was the personification of what every person loathes about themselves when they inevitably succumb to the workforce—superficial, petty, and incompetent, just like the status quo he kowtowed to.
From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2016
He always made a great show of waiting on the Tates; he kowtowed to my parents when they came in.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
