Word
cookout
Phoneticscook·out, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkʊˌkaʊt/
UK/kˈʊkaʊt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. an outdoor party where people cook and eat food together, usually on a grill. Common in American English.
n. a social gathering held outdoors at which food is cooked and eaten, typically over a charcoal or gas grill. Chiefly North American usage.
Examples
“We're having a cookout in the backyard tomorrow.”
“The neighbors organized a cookout for Memorial Day weekend, grilling burgers and hot dogs for everyone on the block.”
“What began as a modest family cookout gradually swelled into a street-wide celebration, with folding tables laden with potluck dishes stretching halfway down the cul-de-sac.”
Examples
simple
“We're having a cookout in the backyard tomorrow.”
contextual
“The neighbors organized a cookout for Memorial Day weekend, grilling burgers and hot dogs for everyone on the block.”
complex
“What began as a modest family cookout gradually swelled into a street-wide celebration, with folding tables laden with potluck dishes stretching halfway down the cul-de-sac.”
Etymology
From cook + out, a compound formed on the model of verbs taking directional particles — eat out, dine out — applied to the specific practice of preparing a meal outdoors.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cookout