Meaning of the word "act out" in English

What does "act out" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

act out

US /ækt aʊt/

UK /ækt aʊt/

to perform something with actions and gestures

Example:

•

The children loved to act out their favorite fairy tales.

•

He decided to act out the scene for the class.

Synonym:

perform dramatize reenact portray depict

to express one's feelings or thoughts through behavior, especially negative ones

Example:

•

He tends to act out when he's stressed.

•

The child was acting out because he wasn't getting enough attention.

Synonym:

misbehave rebel express vent externalize