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pan out

verb

Definition of pan out 

intransitive verb

: turn out especially : succeed the signs revealed that the experiment wasn't panning out — Ronald Reagan

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Examples of pan out in a Sentence

the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out the investment scheme didn't quite pan out

First Known Use of pan out

1868, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for pan out

pan entry 2

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Time Traveler for pan out

The first known use of pan out was in 1868

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