Bout

A "bout" refers to a short period of time characterized by a specific activity, illness, or experience. It can describe a brief period of intense activity like a "bout of exercise," a period of illness such as a "bout of the flu," or an occurrence of something, good or bad. It usually implies a temporary or recurring event, often of a challenging or somewhat negative nature. While it often indicates a singular episode, the term can be used to denote a series of occurrences tied to a particular context.

Bout meaning with examples

• After weeks of hard work, the athlete finally decided to give himself a proper rest from his training regime; The runner was exhausted and had a "bout" of serious cramps due to his previous demanding workouts.
• The recent weather patterns caused a "bout" of heavy rain and flooding in the city, causing transportation and business problems. The local government issued warnings to residents.
• John was forced to stay home after a short "bout" of food poisoning from that shady roadside restaurant. His doctor advised him to hydrate well and rest for 24 hours.
• After battling the flu for a week, it took my sister a couple of days to recover from her prolonged "bout" of sickness. The family offered her help whenever they could.
• The competitive eating contest was a thrilling spectacle to witness. Competitors each had a short, fast "bout" of devouring as much food as they could manage in a limited period, the winner was decided at the end.