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
His days are spent either sitting sadly on Iris’ bed with literal hangdog eyes or acting out and destroying things in her apartment.
—
Lindsey Bahr, Twin Cities, 2 Apr. 2025
But most small children eventually outgrow the impulse to act out.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 27 Mar. 2025
Instead, Butler acted out with indifference toward the Heat season to the degree that he was suspended by the Heat three times without pay before being dealt to the Warriors at the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2025
At one point, Scott acts out holding back an eager dog that wants to get to its bowl.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
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Lindsey Bahr, Twin Cities, 2 Apr. 2025
But most small children eventually outgrow the impulse to act out.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 27 Mar. 2025
Instead, Butler acted out with indifference toward the Heat season to the degree that he was suspended by the Heat three times without pay before being dealt to the Warriors at the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2025
At one point, Scott acts out holding back an eager dog that wants to get to its bowl.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 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 15 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)
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