Definition of "out of character" in English

Prepositional phrase

1. Inconsistent with someone's personality, disposition, or usual expected behaviour.

   • The burst of anger was out of character for the normally placid boy.

2. Not in character; not in the zone; not successfully performing within the mindset of a given character in a theatrical performance.

   • I was out of character for most of the first act because those people in the third row wouldn't stop chatting.

3. Not acting; not "on"; behaving within one's natural personality rather than that of a character, or taking actions entirely outside the fictional context.

   • After watching him perform so energetically, it is a bit of a trip to hang out with him when he's out of character. In real life, he's really mellow.
   • Susan asked the GM, out of character, whether she was able to sense magic in the room.
   • The comedian stepped out of character to mug directly to the audience.