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

She was just coming out as a lesbian to her family, and recalls seeing a little girl with her two moms at a protest carrying a sign that read “My moms take me bowling.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

“It seems like every food manufacturer has a product coming out with enhanced protein,” said Brian Walton, an economist at Bozic, a dairy-market data-aggregation hub.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

Initially, I was coming out the gate with “September,” just, “Let’s get this out the way.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Emilio Gay coming out, getting runs and actually looking the part was another good sign.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

I remember how I felt coming out of stasis.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera