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
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
Sometimes this strategy pans out.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
Wenger still faces sentencing in that case, regardless of how the civil rights trial pans out.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
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
Sometimes this strategy pans out.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
Wenger still faces sentencing in that case, regardless of how the civil rights trial pans out.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pans out
Verb
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The pro-union, NYCHA-founding leader who fought Tammany Hall and improved New York City’s public infrastructure proves there’s precedent for big social change in this town.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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Despite looking like a fighter pilot who could win a game of dogfight football, Colin isn’t framed as a temptation for Marissa, and a lack of sexy secrets proves to be a recurring blind spot for the series, even if those two have plenty of other skeletons in their massive, boring closets.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Todd, who previously served as CFO of Global Payments, succeeds Robert Hau, who will serve as a senior advisor through the first quarter of 2026 to support a transition.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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DeGrezia succeeds Matt Brown, who was promoted in August to senior vice president, regional director of Saks Global stores in the South.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And Biltmore Estate goes above and beyond on the festive front.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
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The first shift after all the previous staff shakeups goes surprisingly well.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In multiple interviews, Smith, who no longer works out of Miami, denied any knowledge of Syrians or Russians involved in the deal.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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That works out to just under 41% of the overall electorate.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pans out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pans%20out. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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