# cookout

/ˈkʊˌkaʊt/ (US) · /kˈʊkaʊt/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cookout
Updated: 2026-08-24

## Definition

an outdoor party where people cook and eat food together, usually on a grill. Common in American English.

For teachers: 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.