1
a
: a usually broad, shallow, and open container for domestic use (as for cooking)
b
: any of various similar usually metal receptacles: such as
(1)
: the hollow part of the lock in a firelock or flintlock gun that receives the priming
(2)
: either of the receptacles in a pair of scales
(3)
: a round shallow usually metal container for separating metal (such as gold) from waste by washing
c
d
2
a(1)
: a natural basin or depression in land
(2)
: a similar artificial basin (as for evaporating brine)
b
: a drifting fragment of the flat thin ice that forms in bays or along the shore
3
4
slang
: face
5
: a harsh criticism
panned; panning
1
a
: to wash in a pan for the purpose of separating heavy particles
b
: to separate (a substance, such as gold) by panning
c
: to place in a pan
2
: to criticize severely
the show was panned
1
: to wash material (such as earth or gravel) in a pan in search of metal (such as gold)
2
: to yield precious metal in the process of panning
—usually used with out
1
: the process of panning a motion-picture or video camera
2
: a shot in which the camera is panned
panned; panning
: to rotate (a camera, such as a motion-picture camera) so as to keep an object in the picture or secure a panoramic effect
: a Greek god of pastures, flocks, and shepherds usually represented as having the legs, horns, and ears of a goat
Pan is often depicted playing a panpipe.
Panama
peroxyacetyl nitrate
1
: all : completely
panchromatic
2
a
: involving all of a (specified) group or region
Pan-American
b
: advocating or involving the union of a (specified) group
Pan-Slavism
3
: whole : general
panleukopenia
Synonyms
Examples of pan in a Sentence
Noun (1)
hey, I could do without seeing your ugly pan for a few days
Verb (1)
virtually all the movie critics have panned this latest sequel in a tired series
Recent Examples on the Web
Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 12 May 2024
Deep-Dish Cheeseburger Pizza Casserole View Recipe Pot pie meets hamburger in this summery potluck recipe that feeds a whopping 12 hungry guests per pan.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
Before the video pans to the left, obstructing the view of the attack, members of the congregation can be seen rushing toward the bishop.
—Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Baked in a Bundt pan, the leavening gives the dessert a cracked appearance similar to an old-fashioned donut.
—Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
In the meantime, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl placed over a small pan of boiling water.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Eleven months after giving birth, Evelyn poured buttermilk pancake mix onto a hot pan, a late breakfast for herself and her new roommate before class.
—Amber Ferguson, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
There’s no need to thaw—just take a cube or two, depending on the size of the dish, and add it to a pan of hot oil.
—Carlos Matias, Bon Appétit, 6 Apr. 2024
The March 25 TikTok that’s garnered more than 7.8 million views as of April 5 shows Clever and her roommate burying Cheeto’s third baby before the camera pans over and shows Cheeto staring out the screen door.
—Paloma Chavez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 14 May 2024
But the jig was instantly up as the cameras panned to Eddie’s son, WVH band leader Wolfgang Van Halen, ripping off the solo on the side of the stage.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 May 2024
The clip starts with the camera panning down the long, solemn tunnel at the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial, as organ music plays in the background.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Nash-Betts asks in the video before panning the camera over to Kelce.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2024
Nash-Betts asks in the video before panning over to Kelce.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 8 May 2024
The lavish, big-budget adaptation was critically panned and even drew unexpected laughter during scenes depicting life in the Crawford household.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Return puree to pan; simmer over low 10 minutes or until reduced by a third.
—Gabriela Camara, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2024
Ring is adding a new indoor camera to its lineup that includes the ability to pan and tilt.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 1 May 2024
Noun
Add some of the neutral oil to a flat cast iron pan and place over high heat.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 12 May 2024
Deep-Dish Cheeseburger Pizza Casserole View Recipe Pot pie meets hamburger in this summery potluck recipe that feeds a whopping 12 hungry guests per pan.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
Before the video pans to the left, obstructing the view of the attack, members of the congregation can be seen rushing toward the bishop.
—Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Baked in a Bundt pan, the leavening gives the dessert a cracked appearance similar to an old-fashioned donut.
—Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
In the meantime, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl placed over a small pan of boiling water.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Eleven months after giving birth, Evelyn poured buttermilk pancake mix onto a hot pan, a late breakfast for herself and her new roommate before class.
—Amber Ferguson, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
There’s no need to thaw—just take a cube or two, depending on the size of the dish, and add it to a pan of hot oil.
—Carlos Matias, Bon Appétit, 6 Apr. 2024
The March 25 TikTok that’s garnered more than 7.8 million views as of April 5 shows Clever and her roommate burying Cheeto’s third baby before the camera pans over and shows Cheeto staring out the screen door.
—Paloma Chavez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
In the spring of 1977, Christine was heading to Montana with her boyfriend to pan for gold.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 14 May 2024
But the jig was instantly up as the cameras panned to Eddie’s son, WVH band leader Wolfgang Van Halen, ripping off the solo on the side of the stage.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 May 2024
The clip starts with the camera panning down the long, solemn tunnel at the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial, as organ music plays in the background.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Nash-Betts asks in the video before panning the camera over to Kelce.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2024
Nash-Betts asks in the video before panning over to Kelce.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 8 May 2024
The lavish, big-budget adaptation was critically panned and even drew unexpected laughter during scenes depicting life in the Crawford household.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Return puree to pan; simmer over low 10 minutes or until reduced by a third.
—Gabriela Camara, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2024
Ring is adding a new indoor camera to its lineup that includes the ability to pan and tilt.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 1 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pan
Cite this Entry
“Pan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pan. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pan
1 of 3 noun1
a
: a usually broad, shallow, and open container for cooking
b
: something resembling a pan
2
: a basin or depression in the earth
a salt pan
pan
2 of 3 verb
panned; panning
1
: to wash earthy material in a pan to concentrate bits of metal
pan for gold
2
: to yield precious metal in panning
3
: to criticize severely
pan
3 of 3 verb
panned; panning
: to move a motion-picture or television camera so as to keep a moving object in view or to scan a scene
Etymology
Noun
Old English panne "pan for cooking," derived from Latin patina (same meaning)
Verb
from earlier pan "the process of panning," short for panorama
Medical Definition
Pan
1 of 2 noun
: a genus of anthropoid apes containing the chimpanzee
PAN
2 of 2 abbreviation
peroxyacetyl nitrate
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share