bout

bout — noun

1. a limited time when an illness affects you, or when one activity or condition ha

1.nounC2
Definition

a limited time when an illness affects you, or when one activity or condition happens strongly for a while.

Example

After lunch, Priya had a sudden bout of stomach pain.

a bout of + illness

A bout of heavy rain emptied the market in minutes.

a bout of + condition

Common collocations
  • a bout of flu
  • a bout of crying
  • a bout of exercise
  • a bout with the flu
Synonyms
  • spell

    the closest everyday word for a short stretch of illness, weather, or mood.

  • episode

    often sounds more formal or medical, especially for one event in a larger pattern.

  • attack

    stronger and more sudden, mainly for illness or emotion.

  • burst

    stresses brief active energy rather than sickness.

Grammar Patterns

a bout of [illness/activity/condition]

a bout with [illness]

Usage Note

Usually appears in the pattern 'a bout of' before an illness, feeling, weather condition, or activity noun. In North American English, 'a bout with' is also used for illness; distinguish from sense 2, which is only about a sports contest.

Common Mistakes

She had a bout flu last week.
She had a bout of flu last week.
use 'of' before the illness or activity.
He was in a bout of unemployment for ten years.
He was unemployed for ten years.
bout usually suggests a fairly short period.

2. a single fight between two boxers or wrestlers.

2.nounC2
Definition

a single fight between two boxers or wrestlers.

Example

In the final bout, Diego knocked his opponent down twice.

final bout in boxing context

The referee stopped the bout after Hana cut her eyebrow.

stop the bout

Common collocations
  • final bout
  • title bout
  • stop the bout
  • win a bout
Synonyms
  • match

    the general word for a sports contest of any kind.

  • fight

    broader and more informal; it is not limited to organized sport.

  • contest

    slightly more formal, common in sports reporting.

Grammar Patterns

win/lose a bout

the title/final bout

Usage Note

Common in boxing and wrestling, often with words such as 'title', 'main', 'opening', or 'final'. Distinguish from 'round': a bout is the whole fight, while a round is one timed part inside it.

Common Mistakes

She lost the first bout of the fight.
She lost the first round of the fight.
a bout is the whole match; a round is one part of it.
They watched a bout of tennis on TV.
They watched a tennis match on TV.
bout is mainly used for boxing and wrestling.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For sense 1, 'bout' suggests a limited stretch of time when something fairly strong happens, often illness or something unpleasant. 'Spell' is the closest everyday choice and works well for weather, dizziness, or sadness. 'Episode' is more formal and often sounds medical, especially when it means one event in a repeated pattern. 'Attack' is stronger and more sudden, so it fits pain, coughing, or fear better than ordinary activities. 'Phase' is usually longer and calmer, often describing a stage rather than a sharp spell. You can say 'a bout of flu' or 'a bout of crying', but 'a phase of flu' sounds wrong, and 'an attack of studying' does too.

bout ↗spellepisode ↗attack ↗phase ↗

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

Originally, bout referred in regional English to one out-and-back turn made while plowing a field. That use came from Middle English 'bought', meaning a bend or curve. From the idea of turning and coming back, the word later developed the sense of one short spell or one contest.