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
In that sense, Mad Bills to Pay is a classic coming-of-age story about growing up and taking on responsiblity, about committing major actions and not just acting out.
—
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025
The research highlights the need to rethink how young students who act out are treated by educators, given the dire consequences of defaulting to traditional modes of punishment.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 31 Jan. 2025
First came Bob Dylan acting out A Complete Unknown before giving the thumbs-up to James Mangold, now Rebecca Hall getting a pronunciation guide from Linda Rosenkrantz.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2025
Worst-case scenario, if Carter acts out again, Golden State can simply cut her and look to the 2026 draft for its next chance at a star.
7.
—Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for act out 
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Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025
The research highlights the need to rethink how young students who act out are treated by educators, given the dire consequences of defaulting to traditional modes of punishment.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 31 Jan. 2025
First came Bob Dylan acting out A Complete Unknown before giving the thumbs-up to James Mangold, now Rebecca Hall getting a pronunciation guide from Linda Rosenkrantz.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2025
Worst-case scenario, if Carter acts out again, Golden State can simply cut her and look to the 2026 draft for its next chance at a star.
7.
—Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
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 21 Feb. 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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