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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of act out
The film has already grossed $815 million at the global box office and drew some controversy with fans excitedly acting out in movie theaters.
—
Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2025
One theory the documentary presented was that Lewis acted out in revenge against Johnson & Johnson, Tylenol’s parent company.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
While law enforcement believes that the suspect in D.C. acted alone, there is always a concern that individuals may act out following such attacks.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 22 May 2025
The accompanying video pays tribute to the popular anime Death Note and features the pair acting out a fan’s fan fiction.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2025
One theory the documentary presented was that Lewis acted out in revenge against Johnson & Johnson, Tylenol’s parent company.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
While law enforcement believes that the suspect in D.C. acted alone, there is always a concern that individuals may act out following such attacks.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 22 May 2025
The accompanying video pays tribute to the popular anime Death Note and features the pair acting out a fan’s fan fiction.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for act out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for act out
Verb
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He's been charged with reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to maintain lane, passing on the right, improper turn, passing at an unsafe distance, engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with an officer and reckless endangerment in the first degree.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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He was arrested on multiple charges, including reckless driving and disobeying an officer.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2025
Verb
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And a few miles to the south, Debnam is carrying on the Thomas tradition.—
Jonathan M. Pitts,
Baltimore Sun,
6 June 2025
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The two carry on, eventually falling into a water fountain with only the pink Ranger emerging — revealing that their baby was a girl.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
People.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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For the first time, Tindall had to act up without his partner over these past two weeks, with Graeme Jones, his fellow assistant, deputising alongside him.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Is his palm injury acting up again, or the pressure to join the elite company of Jack Nicklaus, who won 3 times at The PLAYERS Championship?—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Set in the 16th century, the film follows Magellan, a young and ambitious Portuguese navigator who rebels against the power of the King, who doesn’t support his dream of discovering the world.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
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But rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers rebelled and Newsom abandoned the effort.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Act out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/act%20out. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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