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

While fans should not expect to see Sanders be the pick at No. 2, he can't be counted out. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025

The Grizzlies should never be counted out, however, whenever Ja Morant is on the court. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025

Who is a long shot you like? Jeff: Never count out Erik Jones at Darlington. —Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025

Hall’s and Carrero’s characters aren’t to be counted out of the heist drama either. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for count out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout