kowtow

Meaning

Verb

1. To grovel, act in a very submissive manner.
2. To kneel and bow low enough to touch one’s forehead to the ground.
3. To bow very deeply.
4. To bow to or show obeisance to.

Noun

The act of kowtowing.

Synonyms

kotow

fawn

bow

🙇

bow low

truckle

worship

prostrate oneself

genuflect

grovel

crawl

scrape

prostrate

bootlick

suck up

crouch

toady

fall into swoon

bob

conge

congee

cringe

kneel

knuckle under

submit

surrender

bow down to

abide

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkaʊˌtaʊ/

Etymology

From Sinitic 叩頭／叩头 (Cantonese 叩頭／叩头 (kau³ tau⁴) / Mandarin 叩頭／叩头 (kòutóu)), literally "knock head".