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)
Synonyms of act out
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
The statement accused Blake of acting out of retaliation for an incident that occurred earlier in the lacrosse season.
—
Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
If sung through onstage, the singer would have to act out a complete narrative.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 June 2026
Throughout, the show’s trademark surreality and sense of play allowed Sweeney to act out massive emotional swings and to edge into the absurd, as in a sequence where Cassie strides through Los Angeles, towering over buildings and dominating the men below.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
Lawmakers must resist the temptation to act out of fear to block the growth of AI and its still largely unknown benefits.
—Jessica Melugin, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for act out
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Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
If sung through onstage, the singer would have to act out a complete narrative.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 June 2026
Throughout, the show’s trademark surreality and sense of play allowed Sweeney to act out massive emotional swings and to edge into the absurd, as in a sequence where Cassie strides through Los Angeles, towering over buildings and dominating the men below.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
Lawmakers must resist the temptation to act out of fear to block the growth of AI and its still largely unknown benefits.
—Jessica Melugin, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
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 14 Jun. 2026.
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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Merriam-Webster unabridged
