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 fight was sanctioned by all four of the major sanctioning bodies, including the World Boxing Association (WBA), the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO), qualifying the fight as an undisputed title bout. —Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Throw in a scandalous tryst, a terrible fall, a bout of amnesia, a fake engagement and a wildly sexy, deeply romantic happily ever after, and this absolute banger will keep the pages turning all night long. —Staff Author, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

For Bolger, that aspect of this boxing drama – the bouts that are going on in the fighter’s mind – is of paramount importance. —Craig McLean, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025

Heading into a bout with the 11-9 Sixers, the Warriors are 11-11, sitting eighth in the Western Conference. —Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 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