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

Not all of those moves have panned out, which is partly why the Yankees could use another active deadline period. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026

That hasn't quite panned out yet, with shares down over 3% year to date. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 22 July 2026

Projecting how a college quarterback will pan out often proves a fool’s errand, despite how many people have dedicated their livelihoods to trying. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 21 July 2026

There’s jewelry, pendants, pens, bracelets, watches…Will all those things pan out? — Sam Jacobs, Time, 21 July 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