1
2
as in succeeds
to turn out as planned or desired
the investment scheme didn't quite pan out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pans out
If none of these private stations pans out, the only LEO outpost left when the ISS crashes back to Earth will likely be Tiangong, the three-module station that China finished building in late 2022.
—
Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
As the camera pans out, the screen flickers, and House appears for a second.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
The camera pans out to the hallway as visitors flee, while the gorilla’s roar echoes loudly in the background.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
There’s drag, and then there’s the drag-on-drag of girls playing boys playing girls playing… well, however that flow chat pans out.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
Still, there’s no doubt that his speed, motor and defensive IQ should mesh well somewhere in this team’s lineup, regardless of how this second-line experiment, which started positively against Calgary, pans out.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
While episodes have been airing on cable, Wednesday will mark their streaming premiere — and all 10 episodes will come available, meaning that fans won’t have to wait much longer to see how the rest of the season pans out.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
The camera pans out to show that there are even more bloodstains splashed over the subflooring of the living room.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
The camera then slowly pans out to reveal that Couric is actually wearing a hospital gown as doctors nearby prepare her for a colonoscopy.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
As the camera pans out, the screen flickers, and House appears for a second.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
The camera pans out to the hallway as visitors flee, while the gorilla’s roar echoes loudly in the background.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
There’s drag, and then there’s the drag-on-drag of girls playing boys playing girls playing… well, however that flow chat pans out.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
Still, there’s no doubt that his speed, motor and defensive IQ should mesh well somewhere in this team’s lineup, regardless of how this second-line experiment, which started positively against Calgary, pans out.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
While episodes have been airing on cable, Wednesday will mark their streaming premiere — and all 10 episodes will come available, meaning that fans won’t have to wait much longer to see how the rest of the season pans out.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
The camera pans out to show that there are even more bloodstains splashed over the subflooring of the living room.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
The camera then slowly pans out to reveal that Couric is actually wearing a hospital gown as doctors nearby prepare her for a colonoscopy.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pans out
Verb
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Back at Rock Villa, a sip and paint with local artist Colin Peters proves an afternoon well spent.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
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Kirundo Mini Dress Navy proves itself as an underrated winter staple in this A-line mini.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bhusri succeeds Carl Eschenbach, who will stay with the company as strategic advisor to the CEO.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Smith succeeds Ted Stimpson, who took on the role in October 2023.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
George built it in the early 18th century, the story goes, to accommodate his mistress, Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
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The legacy of the Luka Doncic trade goes way beyond sports.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That works out to estimates ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 residents in a state of nearly 32 million residents.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
That works out to a net domestic outmigration of over 30,000 residents.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pans out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pans%20out. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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