verb
kowtow
KOW-tow
Kowtow (verb) means to kneel and bow so low that the forehead touches the ground, as a sign of deep respect or submission. Example: “Officials once had to kowtow before the emperor.”
verb
1
To kneel and bow so low that the forehead touches the ground, as a sign of deep respect or submission.
"Officials once had to kowtow before the emperor."
2
To act in an excessively submissive or obedient way toward someone.
"He refused to kowtow to his boss's unreasonable demands."
"The company was accused of kowtowing to its biggest investor."
noun
1
The act of kowtowing.
"The ambassador performed the traditional kowtow."
How to use kowtow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally a deep ceremonial bow; today mostly used for grovelling or being overly submissive to someone in power.
Common mistake
In modern English it's almost always used figuratively ("kowtow to demands"), rarely about the literal bow.
Common pairings
kowtow to someone
refuse to kowtow
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Word forms
- Plural
- kowtows
- Third person singular
- kowtows
- Past tense
- kowtowed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Officials once had to _____ before the emperor.
Etymology
From Cantonese 叩頭 (kau tau), literally "knock head" — referring to the forehead striking the ground.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “kowtow” mean?
The word “kowtow” means to kneel and bow so low that the forehead touches the ground, as a sign of deep respect or submission. In plain terms, originally a deep ceremonial bow; today mostly used for grovelling or being overly submissive to someone in power.
How do you pronounce “kowtow”?
“Kowtow” is pronounced KOW-tow (/ˈkaʊˌtaʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “kowtow” in a sentence?
Here is “kowtow” used in a sentence: “Officials once had to kowtow before the emperor.”
What part of speech is “kowtow”?
Depending on how it is used, “kowtow” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “kowtow” come from?
The word “kowtow” comes from Cantonese. From Cantonese 叩頭 (kau tau), literally "knock head" — referring to the forehead striking the ground.
How many meanings does “kowtow” have?
“Kowtow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to kneel and bow so low that the forehead touches the ground, as a sign of deep respect or submission.
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