: 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

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 27-year-old’s next bout is against all-time great Tyson, who will be 58 for the July 20 match. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 When the Fed began aggressively raising rates in March 2022 to fight the worst bout of inflation in four decades, a painful recession was widely predicted, with waves of layoffs and high unemployment. Paul Wiseman, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 Feats of derring-do, bouts of inspiration and a hearty show of strength for Nordic animation are but three of many motifs underscoring this year’s Cartoon Movie, which runs over March 5 – 7 in Bordeaux. Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 Gout is an exquisitely painful type of arthritis, which flares when uric acid crystals settle into people’s joints, causing red-hot bouts of severe inflammation. Peter Ubel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The unusual bout of legislative maneuvering late in session provided a way for both DeSantis and Renner to save face on one of the speaker’s top priorities. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 After the first pair of dueling science students completed their two-minute bout, Mitchell called N.S. and classmate D.M. to fight, the suit says. Cristian Santana, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 The 28-year-old earned a split decision win over Kelsey De Santis in what was the first professional female MMA bout held in Saudi Arabia. Issy Ronald, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 Oliver competed in at least six matches and came away scratched and emotional, but sturdier from his bout. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near bout

Cite this Entry

“Bout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bout. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bout

noun
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

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