noun
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a period of time spent doing something, such as drinking
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a period of illness
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a contest or fight, esp a boxing or wrestling match
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bout
1535–45; variant of obsolete bought bend, turn, derivative of bow bow 1; see bight
Explanation
A bout is a fight. If you want to be a boxer, start with some easy bouts before challenging the champ. A bout is a period of time in which something intense happens, like fighting, binging, or being sick, and comes from the word for bending, or going round in a circle. We usually use it these days for something you wouldn't want to go on for too long of a time. If the full moon makes you crazy, you might suffer a bout of madness.
Vocabulary lists containing bout
100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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Bud, Not Buddy
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The Diary of a Young Girl
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ricky Hatton's fight against Kostya Tszyu in June 2005 at Manchester Arena began at 02:00 to cater for American audiences, as did Joe Calzaghe's bout against Jeff Lacy in March 2006 at the same venue.
From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026
The latest bout of inflation was sparked by the war with Iran and a resulting surge in oil prices to $113 a barrel.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026
When they started the medication and when changing to a new dose, they sometimes had a bout of vomiting or diarrhea about 48 hours after the shot.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
Less than a month after a May heatwave that set records in several European countries, the continent is facing a new bout of extreme weather, with temperatures set to rise even further in coming days.
From Barron's • Jun. 21, 2026
Though she was still fatigued from her bout with malaria, she impressed everyone with her strength and courage as she dealt with Garfield's precarious condition.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
