bout

noun

ˈbau̇t 

: a spell or period of activity: such as

a

: an athletic match (as of boxing)

lost his bout with the champion

b

: outbreak, attack

a bout of pneumonia

frequent bouts of depression

survived her bout with cancer

c

: session

a drinking bout

a bout of unemployment

Synonyms

• tournament
• competition
• event
• game
• match
• contest

Examples of bout in a Sentence

undoubtedly the team's best wrestler, he hasn't lost a bout yet

she's currently suffering from a bout of the flu

Recent Examples on the Web

In September 2019, Poirier faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Just four days after the bout, Chavez Jr. was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2025

His bout against Paul was a major sporting event, setting a record for the largest boxing gate in Honda Center history. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2025

Chávez had fought just once since 2021 before his bout with Paul, having fallen to innumerable lows during a lengthy boxing career conducted in the shadow of his father, one of the most beloved athletes in Mexican history. —Jaimie Ding, Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

English dialect, a trip going and returning in plowing, from Middle English bought bend

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bout

• clout
• doubt
• drought
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout
• scout

Kids Definition

bout

noun

ˈbau̇t 

1

: a spell of activity

nonstop bout of reading

2

: an athletic match

wrestling bout

3

: attack entry 2 sense 3

a bout of measles