shell out

verb

shelled out; shelling out; shells out
: pay

Examples of shell out in a Sentence

we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And one of the candidates whose campaign isn't spending a cent on commercials will actually be promoted by more than half of all the money shelled out on the TV ads booked so far in the primary season. M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 21 July 2025 The Cowboys, meanwhile, shelled out Prescott’s contract along with star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, whose contract is the third-highest in the league at $34 million per season. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2025 More than $5 billion has been shelled out in settlements to date. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025 As countries in the Middle East got the greenlight to shell out on Nvidia chips, the stock regained the momentum that has defined it for two-plus years. Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for shell out

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shell out was in 1801

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shell%20out. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!