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
While in shelters, some animals may act out due to the overwhelming stress of their environment.
—
Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Two months later, Becca was the target of online gossip and started acting out and drinking as a way to cope.
—Deb Schmill, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Prosecutors argued the brothers acted out of greed, resorting to murder to get their multimillion-dollar inheritances before being cut out of their parents’ will.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
In the crowded gym, the researchers instructed participants to act out different scenarios.
—Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Two months later, Becca was the target of online gossip and started acting out and drinking as a way to cope.
—Deb Schmill, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Prosecutors argued the brothers acted out of greed, resorting to murder to get their multimillion-dollar inheritances before being cut out of their parents’ will.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
In the crowded gym, the researchers instructed participants to act out different scenarios.
—Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 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)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share