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

Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t be counted out of the Eastern Conference, either. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026

Don't count out Texas small towns. —Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026

In boxing, the referee either counts out the fighter or stops the contest. —Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026

China should not be counted out, but the sourcing landscape is widening, with more players earning a seat at the table. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 25 Feb. 2026

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