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 of bout

• 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

However, the Hall of Fame game participants will have four matchups because of the early exhibition bout. —Mike Kaye updated March 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026

The United States and Israel’s widening war with Iran has stricken an already uneasy global economy with a new bout of uncertainty. —Mirtha Donastorg, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026

Prosecutors showed that Gray, 55, gave his son the rifle for Christmas and refused entreaties to lock it up as Colt Gray, then 14, showed signs of deteriorating mental health, including bouts of anger and an obsession with school shooters. —Peter Weber, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026

Committed to his craft, Munoz-Pederson had traveled as far as Thailand to train in Muay Thai and to New Zealand to find additional bouts. —Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026

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