cower
verb
cow·er
| \ ˈkau̇(-ə)r
\
\
cowered;
cowering;
cowers
Definition of cower
: to shrink away or crouch especially for shelter from something that menaces, domineers, or dismays
They all cowered silently in their places, seeming to know in advance that some terrible thing was about to happen.— George Orwell
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Examples of cower in a Sentence
They cowered at the sight of the gun.
She was cowering in the closet.
I cowered behind the door.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Video circulated on social media showed police indiscriminately beating protesters in the station and pepper spraying a group of young people cowering on a train. — Los Angeles Times, "New violence erupts in Hong Kong after protesters march in defiance of police ban," 31 Aug. 2019 Our children and grandchildren will either remember us for cowering before a criminal, or for upholding the rule of law and defending the Constitution. — Seth Moulton, Fortune, "Seth Moulton: Mueller Showed Us Why House Leadership Is Failing on Impeachment," 30 July 2019 Caution signs around the park signs depict an adult elk rearing up to protect its fawn, while a person cowers. — Vanessa Hua, SFChronicle.com, "In praise of road trips for family vacations," 25 July 2019 No action was taken at the time, but officers said the dog cowered when Vantull came near it. — Shannon Larson, courant.com, "New Britain man arrested for abusing pit bull, police say," 16 July 2019 And fight each other over descriptions, again, as children still sit in cages at the border, and families cower today to see if they will be separated. — John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al.com, "America: Land of the free, or of the fear?," 14 July 2019 The mob marched on the Bastille, where its governor, Bernard-Rene de Launay, cowered within. — Ryan Prior And Erin Davis, CNN, "Bastille Day inspired centuries of civil disobedience in France. Here's why," 13 July 2019 Has your normally docile puppy been cowering in a corner and peeing on the carpet? — Dahleen Glanton, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Fireworks will be going off in backyards all over the state this 4th of July. How’s that ban working out for you, Illinois?," 3 July 2019 But while the appeal of a lighter, brighter wardrobe is undeniable, those of us still cowering under the security blanket of sheer sleeve, lightweight cardigans, or ankle-grazing skirts may feel a few fleeting pangs of sartorial separation anxiety. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "Where To Get The Best Spray Tan From Coast to Coast," 19 Apr. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cower.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for cower
cower
verb
English Language Learners Definition of cower
: to move back or bend your body down because you are afraid
See the full definition for cower in the English Language Learners Dictionary
cower
verb
cow·er
| \ ˈkau̇-ər
\
\
cowered;
cowering
Kids Definition of cower
: to shrink away or crouch down shivering (as from fear)
The thunder made our dog cower.
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