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

In addition to rehabbing his achilles, which is a very rough injury itself, Haliburton’s recovery has been slowed by a bout with shingles — in his face — a horrible disease that will probably make for good TV, somewhat fortunately and very unfortunately. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026

Heyward had a heart attack a few years ago and recently dealt with a variety of health problems including a long bout with COVID and pneumonia. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026

The practice has often come under fire for destabilizing markets and accelerating sharp sell-offs during bouts of extreme volatility and pushing vulnerable companies into distress. —Hugh Leask, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026

The narrator in Pseudo-Quintilian’s fiction complains of the unfairness of the bout. —Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 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