act out

verb

acted out; acting out; acts out

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: 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)

Synonyms of act out

• misconduct
• disobey
• carry on
• run riot
• act up
• rebel
• raise Cain

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

Fleming acts out each detail with gusto, and this full sensory barrage earns him his loudest round of applause yet. —John Roy, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026

Emotional humans acting out conflicts will never be able to operate a society that values life, liberty and the pursuit of universal happiness. —Roger Van Zanen, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026

There are also stud shooters for kids who want to get hands-on with acting out an epic battle. —Kim Snaith, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026

The plaintiffs claim the administration is acting out of racial animus. —Miami Herald Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for act out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

act out

verb

1

: to represent in action

children act out what they read

2

: to behave badly especially as a way of letting out painful emotions

Medical Definition

act out

transitive verb

(ˈ)akt-ˈau̇t 

: to express (as an impulse or a fantasy) directly in overt behavior without modification to comply with social norms

act out an adolescent fantasy

intransitive verb

: to behave badly or in a socially unacceptable often self-defeating manner especially as a means of venting painful emotions (as fear or frustration)