shell out

verb

shelled out; shelling out; shells out

: pay

Synonyms of shell out

• spend
• pay
• lay out

Examples of shell out in a Sentence

we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets

Recent Examples on the Web

The Salmonella Enteritidis Has Been Linked To Eggs The FDA has shelled out as well more info about the Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak infections that was first listed on the FDA website on June 10. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

But shelling out $85 cash for this perfect, pilgrim/courthouse dress was the only right decision in that moment. — Asha Iyer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Interested buyers will need to shell out $2,500 for Rivian’s Sound and Vision package, which includes a glass roof and audio system, in order to get the captain’s chairs. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026

Auchincloss says some of the headline numbers associated with American travel spending may be buoyed by the high-earners shelling out for expensive vacations rather than the wider population taking a lot of trips. — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shell out

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