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

Williams and his crew have a lot of ideas to grow the sport, including celebrity fights; coed matches; choreographed bouts; sport against sport (e.g., baseball players vs. football stars); pajama fights; and city teams. —Candace Oehler, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

The turnout on TV was up 18% from last year’s bout (816,800 viewers) and up 6% from the previous record high for the NWSL championship game, set in 2022 (915,000). —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024

The bout, which had viewers fighting streaming issues, resulted in a unanimous decision victory for Paul in the officially sanctioned match. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 26 Nov. 2024

After missing each of the Timberwolves’ last two games, starting point guard Mike Conley remains questionable for the team’s home bout Tuesday against the Houston Rockets — the third of four NBA Cup group-play contests — with a toe sprain. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Nov. 2024

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