What is the meaning of acting out?

noun

  • A (usually irritating) impulsive and uncontrollable outburst by a problem child or a neurotic adult.
  • Psychiatry) the display of previously inhibited emotions (often in actions rather than words); considered to be healthy and therapeutic. (

verb

  • Represent an incident, state, or emotion by action, especially on stage.
    • usage: "She could act neurotic anxiety"
  • Act out; represent or perform as if in a play.
    • usage: "She reenacted what had happened earlier that day"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
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APAWordNet. (2010). acting out. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/acting_out/definitions/1217935
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "acting out" http://smartdefine.org/acting_out/definitions/1217935 (accessed September 22, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, acting out, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/acting_out/definitions/1217935>.
MLAWordNet. "acting out" 23 October 2010. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/acting_out/definitions/1217935>