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
Durant can, at times, string together 8-10 minute long takes, acting out everything in a particular scene, so precision is key.
—
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2025
However, Trump is far from the only one pushing this idea: several states are considering their own versions, including Oklahoma, which passed a strategic Bitcoin reserve act out of committee last week.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, previously shared a look into their pre-taped opening of Live with Kelly and Mark's annual After the Oscars Show with the duo acting out scenes as Glinda and Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey), respectively.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
The result is a familiar yet disembodied reality, akin to a fairy tale, in which characters act out a parable of our ugliest fears and desires.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
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Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2025
However, Trump is far from the only one pushing this idea: several states are considering their own versions, including Oklahoma, which passed a strategic Bitcoin reserve act out of committee last week.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, previously shared a look into their pre-taped opening of Live with Kelly and Mark's annual After the Oscars Show with the duo acting out scenes as Glinda and Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey), respectively.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
The result is a familiar yet disembodied reality, akin to a fairy tale, in which characters act out a parable of our ugliest fears and desires.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 18 Feb. 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 22 Mar. 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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