1
as in proving
to come to be
the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in succeeding
to turn out as planned or desired
the investment scheme didn't quite pan out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of panning out
Alphabet, too, was left for dead by the Street on fears that management wasn't executing and the company's AI strategy wasn't panning out to the point the were being overtaken by others.
—
Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
The Guthrie family is aware that the investigation might need to be transitioned and has been briefed on the fact that certain leads have not been panning out, the sources said.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
That is panning out with Knowles and Fanendo Adi, who will take over for Jeremy Hall as head coach of the Loons’ developmental team, MNUFC2.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
Vrána not panning out hurt the Mantha return some, and many of the second-rounders Detroit acquired didn’t materialize either.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Thanks to partisan gerrymandering, once-competitive districts have now become easy targets that fundamentally prevent a truly massive seat haul from actually panning out.
—Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Earlier forecasts of high temperatures dropping into the 80s in the Dallas area weren't panning out, the weather service there said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Staffers at the restaurants told the Post the main sanctuary is vacant, a hint that the idea proposed in 2023 to put in a 320-seat, bi-level theater is not panning out.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2025
Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
The Guthrie family is aware that the investigation might need to be transitioned and has been briefed on the fact that certain leads have not been panning out, the sources said.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
That is panning out with Knowles and Fanendo Adi, who will take over for Jeremy Hall as head coach of the Loons’ developmental team, MNUFC2.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
Vrána not panning out hurt the Mantha return some, and many of the second-rounders Detroit acquired didn’t materialize either.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Thanks to partisan gerrymandering, once-competitive districts have now become easy targets that fundamentally prevent a truly massive seat haul from actually panning out.
—Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Earlier forecasts of high temperatures dropping into the 80s in the Dallas area weren't panning out, the weather service there said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Staffers at the restaurants told the Post the main sanctuary is vacant, a hint that the idea proposed in 2023 to put in a 320-seat, bi-level theater is not panning out.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panning out
Verb
-
The stress for the Heat is proving tangible.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Mar. 2026
-
One Fayette County middle schooler is proving that no one is ever too young to make a big impact.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
McConnell, who turns 37 next month, was officially introduced as the 28th head coach in Saint Mary’s history on Wednesday, succeeding Bennett, who left the school after 25 years to become Arizona State’s next head coach.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
That has dropped with every succeeding poll.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Anyone apoplectic about the reactionary policies coming out of Washington should rest assured that Connecticut’s legislature is hard at work to balance the scales.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Sometimes just coming out of nowhere and climbing a few steps is enough.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The group said Denali was a little shaky at first but quickly found her footing, nursing before going over to meet her big brother Diane.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In the final Showcase round of the game, the final two players guess the price on a large collection of high-value items and the closest guess to the correct price without going over wins the whole pot.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After a falling out, the two went their separate ways, and Bill opened his own shop, Lafayette Coney, next door.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The two reportedly had a falling out after his divorce from Miley’s mom, Tish, but are said to be in better terms now.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gas prices continue to rise in Massachusetts and commuters are working out ways to cut back on spending.—
Paul Burton,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Another way to cut down on decision fatigue while working out is to start with the same move, which creates another predictable routine.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tucked in between the historic Sistrunk neighborhood, the still under-construction FAT Village development and Flagler Village, a neighborhood popular with young people and families, Thrive is meant to cater to downtown Fort Lauderdale’s evolving demographics.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
This rapid timeline shows how defense companies are trying to respond faster to evolving threats rather than relying on slower traditional acquisition cycles.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To meet his growing costs, Meraj had increased the price of a cup of tea from ten rupees to fifteen, a fifty-per-cent rise (in New York terms, like a cup of drip coffee going from just shy of four dollars to nearly six overnight).—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
McDowell is with 916 Community Alliance, going inside underserved community classrooms to help keep the peace.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Panning out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panning%20out. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
