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 Most recently, Smith was captured kissing costar Melanie Liburd while acting out a wedding last Friday. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 The guests have lots of range — there are serial cheaters, all types of scuzzy folks and even a man who likes to dress as a baby and act out everything, down to the boom boom in his diaper. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 During his two stays, he was placed in solitary confinement roughly 20 times, ranging from days to weeks, and endured psychological abuse at the hands of staff members who provoked him to act out, the lawsuit stated. Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 All children act out, but certain behavioral issues in 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds shouldn't be overlooked. Pamela Kramer, Parents, 28 Feb. 2024 At the grudge stage, individuals with erotomania might possibly act out or finally accept that the relationship is impossible, moving on to repeat the cycle with someone new. Mark Travers, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Another, from Bulgaria, took a break from asking his question to act out his favorite scene from The Departed. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024 The second score featured him acting out a penalty kick in the style of the other football. Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024 Even when someone does act out, such as when Edwards recently refused to sub out of a game in the final minute of a first half, situations are handled swiftly. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 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.

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 18 Mar. 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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