count out

verb

counted out; counting out; counts out

transitive verb

1

: to not include (someone) in an activity

If you are looking for people to help you clean the house today, count me out.

2

: to decide that (someone or something) cannot win or succeed

Don't count out our team just yet. They could still win.

3

: to count (a certain number of items to be separated from a quantity one is holding)

He counted out ten tickets and handed them to her.

4

: to signal the knockout of (a boxer who is down) by completing an audible count of 10 seconds before the boxer rises

Examples of count out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sanders is not considered to be a front-runner, but he can't be counted out at this point either. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025

But don’t count out Valor Christian’s Ellie Londo, the defending 100 champion who is ranked third in that race and also sixth in the 200. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 14 May 2025

Although the Celtics are trailing in their series against the New York Knicks, 2-0, after losing their first two home games, Griffin isn't counting out Boston. —Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

But don’t ever count out Rosary, which defeated Fullerton in the other semifinals. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for count out

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