1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

panning out

verb

present participle of pan out
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 Yet despite those signings not panning out, the owners are hell-bent on a salary cap, while the players are vehemently opposed. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Roobroeck and Terrance are both coming off down years on a bad AHL Hartford team, with scouts who watched the Wolf Pack giving the 6-foot-7 Roobroeck a better chance of panning out in a bottom-six role. — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 The quirky sci-fi comedy starring Diedrich Bader and Chris Parnell did not end up panning out for Spelling. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 There were theories that 007 First Light could slide in as one of the sleeper hits of 2026, and, at least critically, that idea seems to be panning out. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Venable bounced from the Guardians to the Phillies to the Dodgers after Preller — fresh off the Matt Kemp/Justin Upton/Wil Myers infusion not panning out — traded him to the Rangers. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panning out
  1. proving
  2. succeeding
  3. coming out
  4. going over
  5. falling out
  6. working out
  7. evolving
  8. going
Verb
  • Grow Familiarity Through Repeated Positive Experiences Build awareness by proving consistency, not popularity.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Started in 2019, FuelFest is a traveling exhibition that’s proving as endearing and enduring as its cinematic inspiration.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of proving
Verb
  • In the current market, some retailers and brands are succeeding and remaining competitive, while others have had to change course—closing, pivoting to other verticals or selling their businesses.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The final season of Girls ended (spoiler) with Hannah Horvath a mother, attempting and, finally, succeeding to get her son to latch.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of succeeding
Verb
  • But being that a similar kidnapping thriller was coming out with A24’s Spike Lee joint Highest 2 Lowest, Affleck pulled the plug on that version of Animals two weeks before production was set to begin.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Lance Leipold needed just one word to describe his level of concern about Kansas’ running back depth coming out of Saturday’s game at Wembley Stadium.
    — Taylor Eldridge, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of coming out
Verb
  • So picking up Pete, rounding the bases, and then going back in the dugout and everything that unfolds while that’s happening is just as important as the play-by-play of that ball going over the fence.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Whether incorporated through a chic shoulder bag, lightweight layers, or comfy footwear, suede adds visual interest to any outfit without going over the top.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of going over
Verb
  • The timing seems less than ideal, as the Current are at risk of falling out of a playoff spot with a relatively green coach in Chris Armas at the helm.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There is no evidence linking hard water to hair falling out at the root.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of falling out
Verb
  • The coach is photographed in a variety of tongue-in-cheek situations such as grilling, taking an ice plunge, beekeeping, working out and doing karate — all while wearing khakis.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Michigan State’s special teams hire is paying off Michigan State’s big assistant hire is already working out.
    — Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of working out
Verb
  • Over the past several weeks, pressure mounted from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to create legislation that helps regulate the rapidly evolving field of AI to ensure safety and to prevent harm to the public.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The donation allows leaders to more fluidly direct money based on the evolving circumstances inside Gaza.
    — James Pollard, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of evolving
Verb
  • Then, Alfonso revealed Sarah Jane and Hailey were the first couple going home, leaving Tatyana and Jan and Giada and Alan safe for another week.
    — Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
  • That means Salomon will protect its core and accelerate in running by going bigger in scale and investing in events, plus provide a pipeline of innovation.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of going

Browse Nearby Words

panning
panning out
panoplies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Panning out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panning%20out. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of elegiac

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All