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

Wednesday night’s Western League bout between Mission Bay and Scripps Ranch felt like a must-win for both squads. —Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

The card still features an interim championship bout in the main event. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

The initial stock market dip on Tuesday was relatively contained compared to past bouts of trade uncertainty in part because investors are more aware of the impact of tariffs and there is skepticism that Trump would actually go through with a serious attempt to take over Greenland. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026

New job cuts follow 2025 staff reduction The latest round of layoffs at the nonprofit come just several months after a bout of cuts last year. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026

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