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

Minnesota United’s defense-centric game plan was panning out almost to perfection through 70 minutes of its MLS Western Conference semifinal against San Diego on Monday night. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Nov. 2025

But a correction doesn’t necessarily always pan out in a big crash, Cembalest pointed out. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025

None of the sightings panned out but the search took on a life of its own. —Liza Finley, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025

And if his ambitions don’t pan out? —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025

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