coming out
Americannoun
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a debut into society, especially a formal debut by a debutante.
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one's acknowledgment and public disclosure of a sexual orientation or gender identity that does not conform to socially defined norms.
How did your parents respond to your coming out?
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an acknowledgment of a surprising interest or hobby, or an unexpected identification as part of a fandom, a supporter of a particular political party, etc.
Etymology
Origin of coming out
First recorded in 1805–15; noun use of verb phrase come out; see -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When demand for capital is growing, with highly rated corporate-bond issuance likely to hit a record in 2026 and more tech IPOs coming out, that demand for capital can also pressure interest rates higher.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Information is still coming out of Japan but here is what we know so far.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The ball is coming out even before the receivers have turned their heads for it, and McDaniel has warned them the ball could hit them in the face if they’re not ready.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
The company also said it received more than $60 billion in new orders during the fourth quarter, giving it a record backlog coming out of the fiscal year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
I see the blaze of fire coming out its end.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.