coming out

or com·ing-out

[ kuhm-ing-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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coming out¹

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

Example Sentences

Not that I'm immune to all the stuff; none of it's fun, but I remember coming out to LA after a breakup in New York, which is what kind of propelled it.

From Salon

But because ordinary people showed some spine — and some interest in consuming news about the scandal — the embarrassing details about Gaetz kept coming out.

From Salon

That may not seem amazing, but one of the scientists involved points out that for animals, a hose – a flexible tube with running water coming out of the end – is “very complex”.

From NewsForKids.net

The 23-year-old went over her handlebars coming out of a roundabout in a mass crash on the fifth stage of the race in August.

From BBC

Teal debuted on Season 7 of the teen drama in 2010, playing the closeted actor in a seven-episode arc that ended with him coming out to as gay.

From Los Angeles Times