head bow
Lowered skull gesture
A head bow is a forward inclination of the head as a gesture of greeting, respect, or acknowledgment.
Less formal than a full bow from the waist, it's common in professional settings and casual social encounters: She gave a quick head bow before leaving the meeting.
The gesture appears across cultures with varying degrees of formality.
- nodBrief head tilt
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- greetingExpression of welcome
- formal greetingCeremonious initial address
- respectRegard with honor
slight nod · submission · incline · humble · neck · genuflect · acknowledge · polite · formal · deep · slight · graceful · ceremony · deference · salute · ribbon · satin ribbon · hair
- bowslongbow, shortbow, crossbow, flatbow, English longbow
- submission gestureskowtow, genuflection, genuflect, genuflecting, prostration
- gesturesgesture, hand gestures, applause, hand raise, tap on shoulder
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- deferencedeference, curtsy, genuflect, kneeling, obeisance
- salutessalute, military salute, hand salute, scout salute, flag salute
head bowsnub
Deliberate dismissive rejection
cold shoulder · turning away · looking away · eye roll · looking down one's nose
head bowkowtow
Excessive deference shown physically
standing tall · lying prostrate · deep bow · genuflection · kneeling
head, bow, heads, bows, headed, heading, headless, bowed, bowing