cookout

noun

cook·​out ˈku̇k-ˌau̇t How to pronounce cookout (audio)
Synonyms of cookoutnext
: an outing at which a meal is cooked and served in the open
also : the meal cooked

Examples of cookout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And whether your plans involve a big backyard cookout or a quiet afternoon on the porch, there’s no reason the drinks need to be complicated. — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 As Americans prepare for an upcoming three-day long weekend, economists warn that hosting a July 4th holiday cookout this year could cost nearly 10% more than last year. — CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Some additional family members (also from out of town) came for a casual cookout and brought friends of theirs — informing, not asking, the other family members (not the hosts) only one day in advance. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026 The family was in the middle of a cookout when Silvia arrived, and after an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile, authorities said Silvia retrieved the shotgun from his truck and shot the two women. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cookout

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cookout was in 1924

Rhymes for cookout

See All Rhymes for cookout

Browse Nearby Words

cook one's goose
cookout
cookroom
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cookout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cookout. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cookout

noun
cook·​out ˈku̇k-ˌau̇t How to pronounce cookout (audio)
: an outing at which a meal is cooked and served outdoors

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