cookout

noun

cook·​out ˈku̇k-ˌau̇t 

: an outing at which a meal is cooked and served in the open

also : the meal cooked

Examples of cookout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some additional family members (also from out of town) came for a casual cookout and brought friends of theirs — informing, not asking, the other family members (not the hosts) only one day in advance. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026

The family was in the middle of a cookout when Silvia arrived, and after an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile, authorities said Silvia retrieved the shotgun from his truck and shot the two women. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

In its early years, I was told, the rodeo was a casual affair sandwiched between baseball games and community cookouts. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Barbecue chicken is a cookout essential, right up there with other grilling classics like hot dogs and hamburgers. — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cookout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

cookout

noun

cook·​out ˈku̇k-ˌau̇t 

: an outing at which a meal is cooked and served outdoors