Master confusing words with ease
Bough vs. Bow
Bough
/baʊ/Examples:
The bough of the willow dipped gracefully into the stream.Spring blossoms adorned every bough of the ancient apple tree.An owl perched silently on the highest bough, surveying the night.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Bow
/baʊ/Examples:
Everyone bowed low to each other.'Good morning, ladies,' I said, bowing politely.He bows his head.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonymsWays to tell them apart:
- Bough has a gh, which is quiet like the large arms of a tree, while bow just bows out with a quiet w.
- A bough is related to trees — think of the tree growing towards the gh.
- Bow can mean to bend — imagine you take a bow by curving at the w.
- To remember bough think of ough representing a tough part of the tree, while bow is about lowering or curving.
- Bough rhymes with cow, but don't let the pronunciation trick you — it references strength in branches.
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