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

Haggling in Switzerland’s Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne over the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran has dominated headlines, but the real news this month is coming out of China.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

GM’s financial position is better than ever coming out of a downturn, says Citigroup analyst Mike Ward.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

"It won't be long before it becomes just a natural advertisement break," added an England supporter coming out of the Dallas Stadium after the defeat of Croatia.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

Even in the tone of his voice, you can hear the real Robert coming out.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026

James hopped in next to me, and I gave the driver directions to the end of our alley, so that Ba wouldn’t spot me coming out of a cab.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu