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

According to the Brooklyn native, Trump helped put together several of his bouts throughout his early career and compensated him well during their dealings with one another. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 21 Jan. 2025

Dickinson won his first-round bout against Jeiner Simon of Denmark before losing to France’s Jolyot Pascal. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2025

The inclusion of McGregor is unexpected as McGregor has been lobbying for a boxing bout with Logan Paul. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2025

Less than five minutes into his bout opposite late replacement opponent, Makhachev stood atop the division with five title fight victories. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 20 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