# abreact

CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abreact
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to express strong feelings or memories that you have been keeping hidden. It is often used when someone is trying to deal with a difficult past.

For teachers: to express or release repressed emotions or memories, typically through a sudden and intense outburst. Often used in clinical contexts to describe the process of emotional catharsis.

## Examples

- The patient began to abreact after hearing the old song.
- During the therapy session, the client started to abreact when the therapist mentioned his childhood home.
- The film's director uses a series of flashbacks to allow the protagonist to abreact the trauma of the war, providing a cathartic release for the audience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.