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

Hollywood insiders, however, aren’t counting out top television and streaming executive Dana Walden, who could become the first woman to lead the 102-year-old company. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026

And don’t count out former 3M Half champions Sarah Jackson (2022) and Allie Kieffer (2025), both of Austin. —Brom Hoban, Austin American Statesman, 17 Jan. 2026

And Panthers owner David Tepper is a total wild card who can never be counted out to do the unexpected. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026

Bluebloods Valor Christian and Highlands Ranch can’t be counted out. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 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