count out

verb

counted out; counting out; counts out

transitive verb

1
: to not include (someone) in an activity
If you are looking for people to help you clean the house today, count me out.
2
: to decide that (someone or something) cannot win or succeed
Don't count out our team just yet. They could still win.
3
: to count (a certain number of items to be separated from a quantity one is holding)
He counted out ten tickets and handed them to her.
4
: to signal the knockout of (a boxer who is down) by completing an audible count of 10 seconds before the boxer rises

Examples of count out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Most traders see volatility coming this week, possibly lots of it with the strong likelihood of a disputed result dragging the vote count out for weeks or even months. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2024 Kyle Freeland’s been down, demoted and counted out. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2024 And never count out Black Pumas, a band that has reaped seven Grammy nominations — though none have been in the R&B field. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2024 Never count out Atlus, and now the famed studio has unleashed a late-comer for GOTY 2024. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for count out 

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of count out was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near count out

Cite this Entry

“Count out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/count%20out. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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