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

There’s an instructor counting out proper steps for the next dance. —Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

No matter how many times she was counted out, the late singer knew how to imbue her mythology with new energy. —Daniel Felsenthal, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025

Girls Etiwanda 67, Ontario Christian 62: Never count out the Eagles and coach Stan Delus. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025

But don't count out the XF 500mm if light carry or brighter optics are a priority. —PCMAG, 5 Mar. 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