Quick Answer • Definition
Kowtow definition: To act in an excessively subservient manner, often to gain favor or show extreme deference.
Definitions of Kowtow
- 1verb(informal)
To act in an excessively subservient manner, often to gain favor or show extreme deference.
- 2verb(formal)
To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground as a sign of worship, homage, or deep respect, especially in traditional Chinese culture.
Example Sentences
casual
“He refused to kowtow to the demands of his corrupt boss.”
business
“Many employees felt they had to kowtow to the CEO's every whim to keep their jobs.”
formal
“The ancient ritual involved participants kowtowing before the emperor.”
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Popular TopicsInflected Word Forms
third person singularkowtows
past tensekowtowed
present participlekowtowing
Frequently Asked Questions: Kowtow in English
What is the meaning of Kowtow in English?▼
Kowtow definition: To act in an excessively subservient manner, often to gain favor or show extreme deference.
How do you translate 'Kowtow' to English?▼
'Kowtow' translates to 'kowtow' in English. Kowtow definition: To act in an excessively subservient manner, often to gain favor or show extreme deference.
How do you pronounce 'Kowtow' and 'kowtow'?▼
Listen to clear English audio pronunciation of 'Kowtow' and native English audio speech for 'kowtow' with bilingual sentence examples on DictBridge.
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