bout

noun

ˈbau̇t How to pronounce bout (audio)
Synonyms of bout
: 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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What was also deeply troubling about the latest bout of violence — and authorities have admitted it — is that there were periods of time when parts of Paris and other cities were out of control. — Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Fundora entered the bout looking toward a chance to unify the 154-pound division, but first had to get past a stubborn mandatory challenger. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 An accomplished musician who has released albums as The One AM Radio, Hirway turned to podcasting after a bout of writer’s block, hoping to find a breakthrough in fellow musicians’ creative processes. — Lily Moayeri, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026 Forecasters are warning South Florida residents that numerous cities will be drenched in rainfall that may lead to bouts of flash flooding and some thunderstorms Saturday night. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bout

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bout was in 1575

Rhymes for bout

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Browse Nearby Words

boustrophedon
bout
boutade
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Cite this Entry

“Bout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bout. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bout

noun
ˈbau̇t How to pronounce bout (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on bout

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bout

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