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

“In the medium to longer term, there will be a risk premium attached to every barrel coming out of the Persian Gulf that will push people into frontier exploration.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

New models and tools are coming out all the time, and are often accompanied by promises to revolutionise our lives, for better or worse.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Julian began the series in the early ’90s after coming out, dedicating his work to his lover, Christopher.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

The rebound from the March selloff has been strong — but stock-market breadth hasn’t been quite as propulsive as what investors witnessed coming out of the April 2025 tariff tantrum.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

“Jimmy, Papa said he can spare you for an hour. He’s coming out to—” She caught sight of me, and her face brightened.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu