What does bow mean?
Bow is one of English's most versatile words, existing as both a noun and a verb with two distinct pronunciations. Said /baʊ/, it describes bending: a person bows the head or upper body to show respect, greet someone, acknowledge applause, or signal submission, while objects bow when they curve or sag under pressure — a tree limb bowed by snow, for example. Said /boʊ/, it names several distinct things: the curved implement used to shoot arrows, a decorative double-looped knot tied in ribbon or worn at the neck as a bow tie, the horsehair rod drawn across strings on a violin, and the forward section of a ship. This split makes 'bow' a classic heteronym, where identical spellings diverge in sound and meaning. The word carries connotations ranging from courtesy and humility to deference or even servility, especially in phrases like 'bow and scrape.' Its flexibility across gesture, sport, music, and seafaring makes it a richly useful term.
To bend the head or upper part of the body forward as a gesture of respect, greeting, obedience, or acknowledgement; also, to bend or be bent into a curve.
"The ambassador bowed slightly before addressing the king."
Takes /baʊ/. Often followed by 'to': 'bow to authority.'
An act of bending forward in respect; a curved weapon for shooting arrows; a decorative knot with two loops; a rod for playing stringed instruments; or the front part of a ship.
"He gave a slight bow and withdrew from the room."
Plural applies to all noun senses; 'bows' is standard for multiple ship fronts, archery weapons, knots, and violin bows.
"The sailors gathered at the bows to watch the dolphins."
'Bow' is one of English's great heteronyms: the very same letters can mean to bend your body, shoot an arrow, or name the front of a ship — depending entirely on which vowel you say.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bow
The bending senses of 'bow' derive from Old English 'būgan,' meaning to bend or turn, which traces back to the Proto-Germanic root '*beugan' and ultimately the Proto-Indo-European root '*bheug-' ('to bend'). Cognates include modern German 'biegen' and Dutch 'buigen,' both meaning 'to bend.' The archery sense comes through Old French 'bou' from Latin 'arcus,' reflecting a separate Romance line that merged into the English word over the medieval period.
Related word forms
How bow is actually used
Pronunciation splits by sense: senses involving bending (body or object) take /baʊ/, while the archery weapon, knot, violin bow, and ship's front all take /boʊ/. The respectful bow is common in East Asian, European courtly, and theatrical contexts alike; 'bow' as a noun of respect often appears in the phrase 'take a bow.' In British English 'bows' is standard for the ship sense.
Easily confused with bow
'Bough' (/baʊ/) means a large branch of a tree and differs only in spelling and meaning from the verb 'bow' (/baʊ/) meaning to bend.