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 of bout

• 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

The bout will determine who will face current UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria later in 2026. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025

In the early stages of Tuesday night’s bout, players struggled to adjust to America’s beloved ballpark as Melrose and Wakefield traded possessions to start. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 26 Nov. 2025

The final game of the Thanksgiving Day games will be a bout between the Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) and the Baltimore Ravens (6-5). —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025

Because his opponent had already surrendered, Arrichion was declared the bout’s winner — posthumously. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 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