pan out
verb
panned out; panning out; pans out
: 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
Gary Neville
especially
: succeed
… the signs revealed that the experiment wasn't panning out … —Ronald Reagan
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
Karin Davis-Thompson 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
The camera then panned out to reveal Kris with her daughters Kim, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian, as well as Kendall and Kylie Jenner, dancing together while dressed in matching black outfits.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Everything does not always pan out.
—Gerrick Kennedy, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
In the past, early studies like this one have shown promising results that didn’t pan out in later trials.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2025
But the visions of crypto bros snapping up luxury condos in dogecoin didn’t exactly pan out.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pan out
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Everything does not always pan out.
—Gerrick Kennedy, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
In the past, early studies like this one have shown promising results that didn’t pan out in later trials.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2025
But the visions of crypto bros snapping up luxury condos in dogecoin didn’t exactly pan out.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pan out
Cite this Entry
“Pan out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pan%20out. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share