as in paid
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 shelled out
All told, Norfolk Southern shelled out well north of $1 billion in settlements, fines, and other fees to clean up in and around East Palestine.
—
Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The Kardashian cohort is in good company with other stem cell therapy goers, who have shelled out cash in the hopes of reducing existing pain or inflammation.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Companies bought perpetual licenses for boxed products, paid large upfront costs, and occasionally shelled out for updates or support.
—Chris Kent, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
But the Broncos just shelled out a massive extension for Zach Allen that’ll increase in cap figure for the next four years, and are now likely tasked with paying OLB Nik Bonitto upwards of $30 million a year.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The Kardashian cohort is in good company with other stem cell therapy goers, who have shelled out cash in the hopes of reducing existing pain or inflammation.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Companies bought perpetual licenses for boxed products, paid large upfront costs, and occasionally shelled out for updates or support.
—Chris Kent, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
But the Broncos just shelled out a massive extension for Zach Allen that’ll increase in cap figure for the next four years, and are now likely tasked with paying OLB Nik Bonitto upwards of $30 million a year.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelled out
Verb
-
Busta also paid tribute to the late MTV VJ Ananda Lewis, who died in June at 52 years old after first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The trade has paid immediate dividends for Boston.—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Those of us who spent a lot of time at our grandma’s house can spot Tupperware containers in two seconds flat.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
-
More of their budgets are spent on health care than what's spent by younger working adults, for example.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shelled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelled%20out. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share