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)

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 Todd also revealed on their Chrisley Confessions podcast that Braddock admitted to acting out of revenge while testifying at their trial. Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 5 Oct. 2024 The couple was afraid that they would be thrown out of the house and that Mullis would mentally relapse and act out on his impulses again. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024 Agatha, meanwhile, stays in Westview, acting out various television plots. Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024 Other parts of Eliza’s monologue were acted out by a violinist and the model Lily Cole. Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for act out 

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.

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of act out was circa 1616

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 14 Oct. 2024.

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
: 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)

More from Merriam-Webster on act out

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