bout
10 synonyms for bout, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A short period of an activity, especially something difficult like an illness or a fight.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use bout
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a bout of flu
a boxing bout
a drinking bout
Etymology
From Middle English bout/bought, related to "bow" and "bight" — the idea of a "turn" or "bend" in an activity.
Full origin of bout →Frequently asked questions
What does “bout” mean?
The word “bout” means a short period of an activity, especially something difficult like an illness or a fight. In plain terms, a short spell of something intense, like a fight, illness, or bad mood.
How do you pronounce “bout”?
“Bout” is pronounced BOWT (/ˈbaʊt/ in IPA).
How do you use “bout” in a sentence?
Here is “bout” used in a sentence: “She was laid up with a bad bout of flu.”
What part of speech is “bout”?
“Bout” is a noun.
Where does the word “bout” come from?
The word “bout” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bout/bought, related to "bow" and "bight" — the idea of a "turn" or "bend" in an activity.
Is “bout” a common word?
“Bout” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
What words commonly follow "a bout of"?
"A bout of" typically introduces something unpleasant and short-lived: a bout of flu, a bout of food poisoning, a bout of insomnia, a bout of depression. The phrase frames the experience as a distinct episode with a beginning and an end.
What is the difference between a bout and a match in boxing?
In boxing they are near-synonyms: bout is the formal term for a single contest between two fighters, while match and fight are the everyday equivalents. Bout is the word used in official rules, records, and ring announcements.
What is the difference between a bout and an episode of illness?
Both name a short period of illness, so they often overlap. Bout emphasizes the struggle and the self-contained duration — you battle through a bout of flu — while episode is the more neutral, clinical term that medicine often uses for recurring conditions.
