bow
1 synonyms and 0 antonyms for bow, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A weapon made from a curved piece of flexible material strung with a cord, used to shoot arrows.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use bow
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English boga, related to a Germanic root meaning "to bend" — the same root behind German Bogen.
Full origin of bow →Frequently asked questions
What does “bow” mean?
The word “bow” means a weapon made from a curved piece of flexible material strung with a cord, used to shoot arrows. In plain terms, depending on context: a weapon for arrows, a musical rod, a decorative knot, the front of a ship, or the act of bending forward in respect.
How do you pronounce “bow”?
“Bow” is pronounced BOH (/ˈboʊ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “bow” in a sentence?
Here is “bow” used in a sentence: “The archer drew back her bow and released the arrow.”
What part of speech is “bow”?
Depending on how it is used, “bow” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bow” come from?
The word “bow” comes from Old English. From Old English boga, related to a Germanic root meaning "to bend" — the same root behind German Bogen.
Is “bow” a common word?
“Bow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “bow” have?
“Bow” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a weapon made from a curved piece of flexible material strung with a cord, used to shoot arrows.
What is the difference between a 'bow' and an 'arrow'?
A bow is the curved, strung weapon that launches the projectile, while the arrow is the pointed shaft that the bow shoots. You draw the bow to send the arrow flying, so they work together but are separate objects.
Why does 'bow' the weapon sound different from 'bow' meaning to bend?
"Bow" meaning the archery weapon or the violin rod rhymes with "go," while "bow" meaning to bend forward from the waist rhymes with "cow." They are spelled the same but are different words, so context and pronunciation tell them apart.
What is the difference between a 'bow' and a 'fiddlestick'?
A "bow" is the standard term for the rod strung with hair used to play a stringed instrument, while "fiddlestick" is an old, informal word for the same thing. Today "bow" is standard, and "fiddlestick" survives mainly in the exclamation "fiddlesticks."
Is the 'bow' you tie the same word as the archery 'bow'?
Both are spelled "bow" and rhyme with "go," and the looped ribbon knot is named for its curved shape, similar to the curve of the archer's weapon. Even so, they refer to different things, so context shows whether you mean a weapon, a knot, or a violin bow.