cower

[ˈkaʊər]

cower Definition

to bend low and move back because you are frightened.

Using cower: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "cower" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The dog cowered under the table when it heard thunder.

• Example

  She cowered in fear when she saw the gun.

• Example

  The child cowered behind his mother's legs.

• Example

  He cowered at the sight of his angry boss.

cower Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for cower

• flinch
• shrink
• quail
• recoil
• cringe

Antonyms for cower

• confront
• face
• brave

Phrases with cower

• cower away from

  to move away from someone or something in a frightened way

  Example

  The cat cowered away from the vacuum cleaner.

• cower in the corner

  to move to the corner of a room and bend down because you are frightened

  Example

  The child cowered in the corner of the room when he saw the spider.

• cower before someone

  to show fear or respect to someone in authority

  Example

  The soldiers cowered before the general.

Origins of cower

from Middle Low German 'kuren', meaning 'to lie in wait'

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Summary: cower in Brief

'Cower' [ˈkaʊər] is a verb that means to move back and bend low due to fear. It is often used to describe animals or people who are afraid of something or someone. Examples include 'The dog cowered under the table when it heard thunder' and 'She cowered in fear when she saw the gun.' Synonyms include 'cringe,' 'flinch,' and 'shrink.'