Meaning trap
come out
declare sexual orientation
To publicly reveal that you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise not heterosexual, often after having kept it private.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To publicly reveal that you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise not heterosexual, often after having kept it private.
'come out' also has the more basic meaning 'be released (for books, movies, products, etc.)'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
After years of hiding his true self, he finally decided to come out at the age of 25.
In recent years, more public figures have chosen to come out, which has contributed to greater acceptance and understanding within society.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: He came out himself as gay.
Say: He came out as gay. / He came out to his parents.
No reflexive — 'come out as X' or 'come out to someone'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Come out' is the established, respectful term; 'publicly disclosed his homosexuality' is clinical and dated.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
come out + as/to
- as gay
- to his parents
- as bisexual
- at work
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- come out (be released (for books, movies, products, etc.)) — 'come out' also has the more basic meaning 'be released (for books, movies, products, etc.)'; this is the advanced sense.