act out
verb
acted out; acting out; acts out
1
a
: to represent in action
children act out what they read
b
: to translate into action
unwilling to act out their beliefs
2
: to express (something, such as an impulse or a fantasy) directly in overt behavior without modification to comply with social norms
: to behave badly or in a socially unacceptable often self-defeating manner especially as a means of venting painful emotions (such as fear or frustration)
Examples of act out in a Sentence
because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention
Recent Examples on the Web
In order to break free of those constraints, Hedda acts out and becomes an architect of destruction.
—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 23 Oct. 2025
The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
As the hitmaker sang while wearing a short white robe and black belt as a dress, background dancers acted out a fight sequence behind her.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
But when her school’s principal suggests that her acting out might be covering up a learning disability, Claire’s mom is hesitant to have her evaluated.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
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Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 23 Oct. 2025
The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
As the hitmaker sang while wearing a short white robe and black belt as a dress, background dancers acted out a fight sequence behind her.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
But when her school’s principal suggests that her acting out might be covering up a learning disability, Claire’s mom is hesitant to have her evaluated.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/act%20out. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
act out
transitive verb
: to express (as an impulse or a fantasy) directly in overt behavior without modification to comply with social norms
act out an adolescent fantasy
: to behave badly or in a socially unacceptable often self-defeating manner especially as a means of venting painful emotions (as fear or frustration)
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