Phrase guide

come out of the closet

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To disclose to others about one's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity, where previously this had been kept secret.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • He came out of the closet as gay to his friends.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: come out

Antonyms: remain in the closet, woodwork

2

verb

Meaning 2

To self-disclose about one's minority or disapproved-of identity, belief, preference, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous, idiomatic, informal, intransitive, sometimes

Examples

  • She finally came out of the closet to her religious family regarding her atheism.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see come, out, of, the, closet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

to state openly and publicly one's homosexuality

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This actor outed last year

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: out, come out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: unwrap, disclose, let on, bring out, reveal, discover, expose, divulge, break, give away, let out

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

36 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: sortir de l'armari — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Catalan: eixir de l'armari — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Chinese Cantonese: 出櫃 /出柜 (ceot1 gwai6) — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Chinese Mandarin: 出櫃 /出柜 (chūguì) — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Danish: komme ud af skabet — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Danish: springe ud — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Dutch: uit de kast komen — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Esperanto: elŝrankiĝi — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Estonian: kapist välja tulema — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Finnish: tulla ulos kaapista — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • French: sortir du placard — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • French: faire son coming out — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • German: sich outen — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Greek: εκδηλώνομαι (ekdilónomai) — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Hungarian: előbújik — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Hungarian: coming outol — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Indonesian: melela — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Irish: tar amach — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Italian: dichiararsi — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Italian: uscire allo scoperto — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Japanese: カミングアウトする (kamingu-auto suru) — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Norwegian Bokmål: komme ut av skapet — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: koma ut av skapet — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Polish: ujawniać (się) — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Polish: ujawnić (się) — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Portuguese: sair do armário — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Russian: выходи́ть из подпо́лья (vyxodítʹ iz podpólʹja) — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Russian: вы́йти из подпо́лья (výjti iz podpólʹja) — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Spanish: salir del clóset — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Spanish: salir del armario — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Spanish: salir del placard — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Spanish: salir del ropero — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Swedish: komma ut ur garderoben — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Swedish: komma ut — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Tagalog: lumadlad — to self-disclose about one's identity
  • Turkish: açılmak — to self-disclose about one's identity