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

• tournament
• competition
• event
• game
• match
• contest

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

At its low point, consumer sentiment fell close to its worst level since a bout of inflation three years ago. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025

Two days before his death, Cash was released from Baptist Hospital after a two-week bout with pancreatitis, Rolling Stone reported. —Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 12 Sep. 2025

The following year, when he was scheduled to fight Donald Cerrone on the UFC 205 card, the bout was scrapped when Gastelum came into fight week ten pounds overweight. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

That second bout of caregiving, Zlotsky said, comes with many of the same challenges as parenthood but with less resources and awareness, and oftentimes more guilt. —Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for bout

• clout
• doubt
• drought
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout
• scout

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