pan out

verb

panned out; panning out; pans out

intransitive verb

: to happen, end, or develop in a particular way : turn out

I'm really enjoying how this is all panning out now and it is so exciting and intriguing to watch and find out what happens next …

—Gary Neville

especially : succeed

… the signs revealed that the experiment wasn't panning out …

—Ronald Reagan

She [Dixie Hollins] noted that learning about arts and entertainment fills her creative side and works as a great plan B if her goal of working in the medical field doesn't pan out.

—Karin Davis-Thompson

Synonyms of pan out

• prove

Examples of pan out in a Sentence

the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out

the investment scheme didn't quite pan out

Recent Examples on the Web

Davis turns 28 in November, and has just 98 career offensive touches, so this is a thin bet to pan out over a full season. — Ben Gretch, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

The mayor said the City Council's ideas for balancing the budget haven't panned out. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Few free agents have panned out With the exceptions of edge rusher Josh Uche and safety Zayne Anderson, most of the free agents Miami signed this offseason turned out to be mediocre NFL players. — Omar Kelly august 24, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Vitello wanted Smith to face the right-handed hitting Caleb Durbin before going to lefty Sam Hentges, but the move didn’t pan out as Smith walked Durbin on four pitches. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

pan entry 2

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pan out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

pan out

verb

: turn out sense 5

especially : succeed