coming out

American  

[kuhm-ing-out] / ˈkʌm ɪŋˈaʊt /

Or coming-out

noun

1. a debut into society, especially a formal debut by a debutante.

2. 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?

3. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of coming out

First recorded in 1805–15; noun use of verb phrase come out; see -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coming out

He said: "Unfortunately, having many more visitors coming out to the park, we're pretty clear that this is going to be an ongoing problem and potentially an increasing problem."

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 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

"If at the end of the day these products are approved, I see nothing good coming out of it," he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Each story also emerged before decades of wealth expansion, with the movie version of “Mildred Pierce” coming out in 1945, right before the post-war boom.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

When he heard people coming out of the building, he crawled under the truck to spy on them.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti