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

To his credit, he’s been counted out more than a few times along this rollercoaster ride. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

And no one ever counts out Buck Gurley at Ocoee, a playoff team last year. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026

Defending champion Dakota Ridge lost a lot of firepower to graduation, but the Eagles also can’t be counted out. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026

The Dodgers can never be fully counted out for a big swing, of course. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 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