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
Though no illnesses have been reported so far, the recalling company has acted out of an abundance of caution.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Tom Reed, who runs the Milwaukee branch of the State Public Defender's Office, interacts with many people facing criminal charges after acting out during a mental health crisis.
—Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
There are concerns in the law enforcement community that these writings could cause others to act out in a similar capacity, those officials said.
—NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024
Wim’s action figures resemble Luke Skywalker in white and Darth Vader in black but aren’t explicitly shown to be those characters, and the lightsaber fight Wim and Neel act out, with one combatant reacting to an injured arm, seems to evoke The Empire Strikes Back without actually naming it.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2024
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.
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Tom Reed, who runs the Milwaukee branch of the State Public Defender's Office, interacts with many people facing criminal charges after acting out during a mental health crisis.
—Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
There are concerns in the law enforcement community that these writings could cause others to act out in a similar capacity, those officials said.
—NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024
Wim’s action figures resemble Luke Skywalker in white and Darth Vader in black but aren’t explicitly shown to be those characters, and the lightsaber fight Wim and Neel act out, with one combatant reacting to an injured arm, seems to evoke The Empire Strikes Back without actually naming it.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 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 22 Dec. 2024.
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