variants
or less commonly curtsey
plural curtsies also curtseys
: an act of civility, respect, or reverence made mainly by women and consisting of a slight lowering of the body with bending of the knees
variants
or less commonly curtsey
curtsied also curtseyed; curtsying also curtseying
: to make a curtsy
Examples of curtsy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Janine Henni, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Kate turned to speak to Charlotte before pointing at one of the dignitaries, seemingly encouraging her daughter, before the toddler princess dipped into a curtsy.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
The pair appear in a series of flamboyant poses: noodling on a piano; smoking solemnly in front of art works; curtsying mid-phone call in a risqué nightdress.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for curtsy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the royals for the Easter Matins Service together for the first time in 2017, where Kate dipped into a picture-perfect curtsy as a gesture of respect when Queen Elizabeth passed by.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Kate turned to speak to Charlotte before pointing at one of the dignitaries, seemingly encouraging her daughter, before the toddler princess dipped into a curtsy.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
That other teams were going to curtsy and bow to the reigning Stanley Cup champions?
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
The pair appear in a series of flamboyant poses: noodling on a piano; smoking solemnly in front of art works; curtsying mid-phone call in a risqué nightdress.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for curtsy
Cite this Entry
“Curtsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curtsy. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share