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

Charles Darwin, himself a sufferer, recorded in the journals documenting his time aboard H.M.S. Beagle a folk custom that had been shared with him during a bad bout in Argentina. —Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025

Following the deaths, all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title bouts will now be 10 rounds instead of 12, according to CNN. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Worst of all, thanks to sporadic bouts of spot alopecia, too many squeezes of a lash curler and irritating makeup removal can spark a lash shed for me. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2025

Here’s a look at the announcement: Following the Aug. 2 card, the Japanese Boxing Commission announced that all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title bouts would be reduced from 12 rounds to 10. —Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 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