coming out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to Formal (context dependent); Predominantly used in social, personal, and journalistic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “coming out” mean?
The act of publicly declaring one's identity, especially as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of publicly declaring one's identity, especially as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, etc.
The process of revealing a personal truth or identity that was previously hidden, often involving social and emotional challenges. Can extend metaphorically to revealing any significant personal stance or characteristic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The concept and term are identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. Slightly more frequent in public discourse in the US.
Frequency
High frequency in socio-cultural discourse in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “coming out” in a Sentence
coming out as + [identity/adj] (e.g., coming out as gay)coming out to + [person/group] (e.g., coming out to my parents)coming out of + [metaphorical place] (e.g., coming out of the closet)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coming out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She decided to come out to her colleagues at the work do.
- He came out as bisexual in a blog post.
American English
- She decided to come out to her coworkers at the company picnic.
- He came out as bisexual in a personal essay.
adjective
British English
- The coming-out party was a landmark event in her life. (Note: 'coming-out' as compound adjective)
- He shared his coming-out experience.
American English
- The coming-out party was a milestone in her life.
- She wrote about her coming-out journey.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used only in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) contexts.
Academic
Used in sociology, psychology, and gender studies literature.
Everyday
Common in personal narratives and media discussions about LGBTQ+ topics.
Technical
Not a technical term outside specific social sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coming out”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coming out”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coming out”
- Using 'come out' without the 'ing' when referring to the process/noun (e.g., 'His come out was difficult').
- Using it to mean simply 'appearing' (e.g., 'The sun is coming out').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While overwhelmingly associated with LGBTQ+ contexts, it can be used metaphorically for revealing any deeply personal secret (e.g., 'coming out as a survivor of abuse'), though the LGBTQ+ association is primary.
Yes. The noun phrase is 'coming out'; the verb phrase is 'to come out' (e.g., 'She came out last year').
No. It is widely understood as an ongoing process where a person may 'come out' repeatedly in different contexts (to family, friends, work, etc.).
It draws an analogy from the phrase 'coming out into society' used for debutante balls. The LGBTQ+ usage metaphorically suggests entering into the society of openly gay people.
The act of publicly declaring one's identity, especially as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, etc.
Coming out is usually informal to formal (context dependent); predominantly used in social, personal, and journalistic contexts. in register.
Coming out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkʌm.ɪŋ ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkʌm.ɪŋ ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come out of the closet”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the phrase 'coming out into the light' – moving from darkness (secrecy) into the open.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIDING IS BEING INSIDE A CONTAINER / TRUTH IS LIGHT. The person is metaphorically 'inside the closet' and moves 'out' into visibility.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'coming out' in modern English?