as in to spend
to hand over or use up in payment
we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shell out
After all, there’s no need to shell out for something like fancy, expensive measuring spoons.
—
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
In the week leading up to the big game, fans who wanted to attend in person at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, needed to be prepared to shell out thousands of dollars on seats.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Most of us will watch the big game from our living rooms rather than shelling out thousands of dollars for a seat in Levi’s stadium.
—Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
But customers paying cash via TrumpRx will still shell out more than $1,500.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell out
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
In the week leading up to the big game, fans who wanted to attend in person at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, needed to be prepared to shell out thousands of dollars on seats.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Most of us will watch the big game from our living rooms rather than shelling out thousands of dollars for a seat in Levi’s stadium.
—Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
But customers paying cash via TrumpRx will still shell out more than $1,500.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell out
Verb
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This has meant the show has spent more time with the very relatable Dunk and his precocious charge Egg.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Grohl said the band spent months discussing their next steps before making the decision.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The reality, however, will likely prove more complicated as the administration weighs its next moves and how — or whether — to issue refunds for tariffs already paid.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm on Saturday as some 3,000 people joined a march in Lyon organized by far-right groups to pay tribute to Deranque.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps a reasonable guideline is to have the municipality lay out the original cash to build a public facility, such as a parking lot or a toll road, and have the users pay a fee for the operation and maintenance of the facilities.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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In his note, Mish and other UBS analysts lay out a baseline scenario in which borrowers of leveraged loans and private credit see a combined $75 billion to $120 billion in fresh defaults by the end of this year.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell%20out. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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