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

But again, after making the Finnish World Junior team, bouts of careless play in his own zone resulted in a reduction of minutes. —Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Another bout of widespread ice and snowfall is forecast to follow close on the heels of a massive winter storm that this week pummeled a large swath of the United States. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025

That’s a far cry from the 2.5% or lower rates set from 2009 to 2021, between the Great Recession and the COVID-19 inspired inflation bout. —Derek Saul, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025

Ever since the United States ascended to global leadership at the end of World War II, American leaders have regularly been stricken by bouts of anxiety that the country is in decline and losing ground to a rival. —Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 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

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