as in to spend
to hand over or use up in payment
we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 shell out
New York — New car buyers can expect to shell out an average of more than $50,000 for the first time, according to a report from Kelley Blue Book.
—
Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
The Cowboys, who have shelled out massive amounts of money to players like quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, didn't want to invest heavily in Dowdle at any point during his four-year run with the team.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The shelter tab represents the second full fiscal year that Massachusetts taxpayers have shelled out larger-than-normal sums to house homeless families after a surge of migrant arrivals pushed the emergency assistance shelter system to a bursting point.
—Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
That would be one of the biggest buyouts in the history of college football behind Texas A&M shelling out $77 million to Jimbo Fisher in 2023.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell out
Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
The Cowboys, who have shelled out massive amounts of money to players like quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, didn't want to invest heavily in Dowdle at any point during his four-year run with the team.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The shelter tab represents the second full fiscal year that Massachusetts taxpayers have shelled out larger-than-normal sums to house homeless families after a surge of migrant arrivals pushed the emergency assistance shelter system to a bursting point.
—Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
That would be one of the biggest buyouts in the history of college football behind Texas A&M shelling out $77 million to Jimbo Fisher in 2023.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell out
Verb
-
Veteran Daniele Rugani, who spent last season on loan at Ajax, showed his experience against Kylian Mbappe and maybe that his recent contract renewal was worthwhile after all.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
What started as a weekend hobby quickly grew into a full-fledged business, and Molski, who has since retired from healthcare sales, couldn't be happier to spend his weekends hunting and restoring vintage pieces.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Lowdown is paying tribute to its late star, Graham Greene.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Their separation came five years after the couple were entangled in the Operation Varsity Blues scandal, pleading guilty to wire and mail fraud related to paying hundreds of thousands in bribes to get their daughters into the University of Southern California.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The policy memorandums lay out in detail his plans to enhance physical fitness, grooming standards and military readiness.—
NPR,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
-
While the cakes bake, lay out two clean tea towels and dust them with the confectioners' sugar.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell%20out. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share