as in to raise hell
to behave badly
because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of act out
The play, which features a rotating cast acting out short stories, brought in $1.1 million last week, with a cast including Miranda, Annaleigh Ashford, Tim Meadows and David Cross.
—
Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition (March 25) takes a wary view of its own contents, which span half a millennium, arguing that the West acted out its daydreams of a docile Orient one cup-and-saucer at a time.
—Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
The Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk does not officially lead but has acted out his objectives, has been orchestrating a campaign to drastically cut the federal workforce and budget.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
If a kid is acting out because he is being bullied, for example, the team might switch his lunch hour to separate him from the bully or help mediate a better relationship between the students.
—Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition (March 25) takes a wary view of its own contents, which span half a millennium, arguing that the West acted out its daydreams of a docile Orient one cup-and-saucer at a time.
—Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
The Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk does not officially lead but has acted out his objectives, has been orchestrating a campaign to drastically cut the federal workforce and budget.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
If a kid is acting out because he is being bullied, for example, the team might switch his lunch hour to separate him from the bully or help mediate a better relationship between the students.
—Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
-
There is no law against creating an environment where children are made to believe that disobeying their pastor’s wishes will cause horrible prophecies to come true.—
Guthrie Scrimgeour,
Rolling Stone,
16 Mar. 2025
-
There is evidence and documentation of all kinds of findings that feel like the stuff of sci-fi: vehicles that appear to disobey the laws of physics, difficult-to-explain interference with American military activity and, indeed, the bodies of intelligent, nonhuman beings.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Fast forward to today, and Jonathan is carrying on the family’s tradition of quality craftsmanship — but in an entirely different world and country, his family having moved to America in the late 1970s.—
Kyle J. Russell,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Following the passing of Alabama bandmember Jeff Cook in November 2022, Owen and Gentry carry on Alabama’s mission of bringing the group’s music to fans.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The sisters may have spent weeks teasing the first single off their new album through several funny little videos and familiar-looking album art, but the tell-tale sign of new Haim music is when the weather gets good and people feel like acting up.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2025
-
In recent weeks, we are told that Phillips has at points been acting up for Moore after Moore broke her ankle while skiing, and she is understood to have been dipping her toe into drama.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Major stock indexes have erased their post-electoral gains, as investors rebel against the prospect of higher costs.—
Carlo Angerer,
NBC News,
13 Mar. 2025
-
This is not the first time Kidman has played a woman rebelling against the gilded confines of her existence, so the actress delivers a reliably fine performance.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share