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
Signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman would change the narrative, but require them to act out of character and block a younger player, Jace Jung.
—
Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Those concerns faded upon watching the murderer act out in court.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025
Marvel War Machine Mech Armor This 154-piece Marvel War Machine Mech Armor action figure comes with three stud shooters, so builders ages 6 and up can act out scenes from the saga.
—Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Our in-car chefs danced up and down the aisle to holiday music, acting out scenes from The Polar Express as clips were read over the speaker.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for act out 
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Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Those concerns faded upon watching the murderer act out in court.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025
Marvel War Machine Mech Armor This 154-piece Marvel War Machine Mech Armor action figure comes with three stud shooters, so builders ages 6 and up can act out scenes from the saga.
—Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Our in-car chefs danced up and down the aisle to holiday music, acting out scenes from The Polar Express as clips were read over the speaker.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for act out
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 9 Jan. 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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