In the context of [[human sexual behavior]], especially [[anal sex]] among [[gay]] men, a '''bottom''' is a receptive partner (i.e. a partner who is penetrated), or a person who prefers the receptive role. The counterpart is a [[top (sex)|top]].
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"Bottom" can also be used as an intransitive verb meaning to be sexually penetrated by: ''to bottom for someone.''
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It is very commonplace for partners to change roles from one encounter to the next or to have both insertive and receptive sex, although many people have a preference between roles. A person who enjoys both topping and bottoming is called a [[switch (sexuality)|switch]].
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The terms "submissive" or "passive" have been used for "bottom," though these may be confusing as the sex in question needn't be part of a dominance relationship, nor is the bottom necessarily any less "active" than the top.
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By extension, the term "bottom" is also used in [[BDSM]] to mean a partner who receives stimulation from another, and who may or may not be [[submissive (BDSM)|submissive]]. See [[bottom (BDSM)]].
Bottoms sometimes identify themselves by wearing a set of keys on the right side of the belt or a [[handkerchief codes|color-coded handkerchief]] in their right rear pocket. This practice, called ''flagging'', began in the gay male subculture but appears to be dying out.
In sexually-themed [[anime]] and [[manga]], especially [[shounen-ai]] and [[yaoi]], a bottom is referred to as ''[[uke]]'', a term from [[kabuki]].
