bout

noun

ˈbau̇t 

: a spell or period of activity: such as

a

: an athletic match (as of boxing)

lost his bout with the champion

b

: outbreak, attack

a bout of pneumonia

frequent bouts of depression

survived her bout with cancer

c

: session

a drinking bout

a bout of unemployment

Synonyms

• competition
• contest
• event
• game
• match
• matchup
• meet
• sweepstakes
• sweep-stake
• tournament
• tourney

Examples of bout in a Sentence

undoubtedly the team's best wrestler, he hasn't lost a bout yet

she's currently suffering from a bout of the flu

Recent Examples on the Web

For decades, that was the deal with the devil that athletes had to contemplate: a possible edge in return for a possible bout of the runs. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 28 Aug. 2024

The latest inflation data will further ease pressure on consumers saddled by a yearslong bout of elevated price increases. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2024

Dreaming up the ideal summer vacation is fuel that keeps us going while navigating dreary bouts of weather, endless work deadlines and the stress of being a human. —Humeara Mohamed, refinery29.com, 14 Aug. 2024

In social media postings after Saturday's bout, the Polish Olympic Committee celebrated Szeremeta's silver medal and did not appear to take the path of Turkish and Bulgarian fighters, who mocked Lin when the boxer from Taiwan beat them. —David K. Li, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

English dialect, a trip going and returning in plowing, from Middle English bought bend

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bout

noun

ˈbau̇t 

1

: a spell of activity

nonstop bout of reading

2

: an athletic match

wrestling bout

3

: attack entry 2 sense 3

a bout of measles