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
Here, they’re acted out by a team that includes Ravelo himself.
—
David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024
The 6-year-old who acted out on the school bus wasn't alone.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 8 May 2024
The bar has also hosted a salon where women acted out the roles of mothers and daughters.
—Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 6 May 2024
In 2020, social upheaval from the Covid-19 pandemic and racial justice protests created the ideal conditions for militias to act out their survivalist, vigilante, and anti-government fantasies.
—Tess Owen, WIRED, 2 May 2024
The peer pressure at school meant that a majority of students – regardless of their faith – believed the rumors that Mr. Paty was Islamophobic and had acted out of malice.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Apr. 2024
Some commenters may be acting out of genuine concern for animal welfare, but their moral case is limited.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
Various guest stars appear to act out these drunken ramblings, even lip-syncing to the more ridiculous statements from the storyteller.
—Kevin Jacobsen and Hope Lasater, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024
In the video, the band don breastplates and gold leaf crowns to act out Shakespeare.
—Audra Heinrichs, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024
The 6-year-old who acted out on the school bus wasn't alone.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 8 May 2024
The bar has also hosted a salon where women acted out the roles of mothers and daughters.
—Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 6 May 2024
In 2020, social upheaval from the Covid-19 pandemic and racial justice protests created the ideal conditions for militias to act out their survivalist, vigilante, and anti-government fantasies.
—Tess Owen, WIRED, 2 May 2024
The peer pressure at school meant that a majority of students – regardless of their faith – believed the rumors that Mr. Paty was Islamophobic and had acted out of malice.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Apr. 2024
Some commenters may be acting out of genuine concern for animal welfare, but their moral case is limited.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
Various guest stars appear to act out these drunken ramblings, even lip-syncing to the more ridiculous statements from the storyteller.
—Kevin Jacobsen and Hope Lasater, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024
In the video, the band don breastplates and gold leaf crowns to act out Shakespeare.
—Audra Heinrichs, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'act out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near act out
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/act%20out. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
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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