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 of bout

• tournament
• competition
• event
• game
• match
• contest

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

The latest bout of violence has killed at least 959 people and wounded over 4,200 others, according to the World Health Organization. — Ahmed Al-Haj, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Return to record highs It’s been a choppy ride to all-time highs, but the S&P 500 has nonetheless rebounded and climbed, boosted by resurgent bouts of AI optimism, robust corporate earnings and a resilient US economic backdrop. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

The two major bouts on the card include men’s and women’s ladder matches. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

In a collision of some of the most terrifying elements of modern society, a YouTube and TikTok influencer has fought a series of humanoid robots in unsanctioned MMA bouts. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for bout

• clout
• doubt
• drought
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout
• scout

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