noun

rout

rowt

noun

A crushing, disorganized defeat.

"The match turned into a total rout, 6-0."

"Historians describe the retreat as a complete rout."

verb

To defeat an opponent so thoroughly that they scatter or retreat in disorder.

"The home team routed their rivals in the second half."

To dig out or carve a groove into a surface, or to search through something thoroughly.

"He routed out an old photo album from the back of the closet."

How to Use Rout

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA decisive, humiliating defeat, or (as a verb) to defeat someone that badly.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "route" (a path or course) — they're pronounced differently and mean very different things despite the shared spelling pattern.

Easily confused with

route →

Common pairings

total rout rout the enemy a rout of the opposition

Word Forms

routed past tense, routed past tense, routed past tense, routed past tense, routed past tense, routed past tense, routed past tense, routs plural, routs plural, routs plural, routs plural, routs plural, routs plural, routs singular, routs singular, routs singular, routs singular, routs singular, routs singular, routs singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The match turned into a total _____, 6-0.

Etymology

From Old French route ("group of people; a breaking apart"), from Latin rupta, the feminine form of ruptus ("broken"). A doublet of "route."

Rhymes for rout

out tout bout gout lout pout about trout spout clout grout scout

See all rhymes for rout →