noun
-
-
a period of time spent doing something, such as drinking
-
a period of illness
-
-
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"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Bud, Not Buddy
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Diary of a Young Girl
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Fury and Joshua are set to meet in an long-awaiting all-British bout at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 11 December.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Freeman, who pushed through a bout with tendinitis in his right knee earlier this month, hit just .184 in September and went 0-for-7 in his last two games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Now cruise stocks have hit their first serious bout of turbulence as growing industry capacity collides with the effects of the Iran war and some unfortunate weather, too.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
The bout, which Walton accepted at less than two weeks' notice after Cejudo's original opponent withdrew, has been sanctioned by the Florida State Commission and will count towards their professional records.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
Before Grandpa Tweedy could say any more about the wagon, Mr. Lias said, “Y’all heard bout Will’s other granddaddy gittin’ marrit last week?”
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
Close won the EBU super-middleweight title on St Patrick's Day in 1993 but it was his bouts against Eubank for which he will be most remembered.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
“You go through bouts of weakness in sectors and industries, but not all at once.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
Ruffy, from Brazil, has two consecutive victories in his most recent bouts, though he has won nine of his last 10 fights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
"This pattern is biologically plausible: experimental studies have shown that interrupting prolonged sitting with short bouts of activity can improve metabolic responses compared with uninterrupted sitting."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026
They had had the usual bouts with childhood illness, including the recent scarlet fever, but nothing out of the ordinary.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
