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.
The rise in diesel costs threatens to worsen a bout of elevated inflation that continues to weigh on shoppers and nudge central bankers toward a possible interest rate hike. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 The move may mark more than another bout of bond-market volatility, with consequences stretching across economies and financial markets. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 The City of Trees is expected to see a bout of cool, wet weather as a Pacific low-pressure system lingers in Treasure Valley, according to the National Weather Service. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026 The bout marked the first time Cameron and Mayer, 36, had fought each other at either the amateur or professional level. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 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 7 Sep. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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