1 B1 neutral
To make a bowing gesture toward someone as a sign of respect or reverence.
"The students bowed to their sensei at the beginning and end of each class."
bow to
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
To show respect to someone by bowing, or to yield to someone's authority, wishes, or pressure.
In plain English
To lower your head or body to show respect to someone, or to agree to do what someone wants because they have power.
What does "bow to" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To yield to pressure, demands, or authority, sometimes reluctantly.
"The company bowed to consumer pressure and withdrew the controversial product from sale."
“
We will never bow to terror.
— Tony Blair, speech to the House of Commons after the 7/7 London bombings, 2005
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To incline the head or body forward toward a specific person as a sign of respect.
Actually means
To lower your head or body to show respect to someone, or to agree to do what someone wants because they have power.
Usage tip
The figurative sense of yielding to pressure is very common in politics, business, and public discourse. It often implies reluctance — the subject gives in but perhaps not willingly.
Words that pair with "bow to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
pressure demands public opinion convention king reality
How to conjugate "bow to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bow to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bows to
he/she/it
Past simple
bowed to
yesterday
Past participle
bowed to
have + pp
-ing form
bowing to
continuous
Hear "bow to" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bow to" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "bow to"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
capitulate to comply with defer to give in to submit to yield to
Keep exploring
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