as in paid
to hand over or use up in payment
we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets
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Recent Examples of shelled out
Google, Microsoft, Amazon and IBM have shelled out millions on the technology, which proponents claim will solve complex problems, including drug discovery.
—
Annie Palmer,samantha Subin, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Steyer’s campaign shelled out payments to creators for as low as $60 and as high as $50,000, according to the latest filings.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Around the same time Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco announced their engagement in December 2024, the couple quietly shelled out $35 million for a sprawling Spanish-style estate in a prime pocket of Beverly Hills that was once owned by Joker and The Hangover director Todd Phillips.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 5 May 2026
Mark Davis paid $2 million for Vegas, while the group led by Larry Gottesdiener shelled out $5 million.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Control of the action series was a major reason why the company shelled out more than $8 billion to buy MGM Studios in 2022.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Jenner said that Hutchins planned to repay her prior to her untimely death and had already shelled out $75,000 toward her legal fees.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Payton said multiple times around the season’s end that Denver had too many drops in the passing game, but the Broncos haven’t shelled out in an inflated receiver market to fix that.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Even though Diane Bricker doesn’t live in her Ocean City, New Jersey, condo during the winter, the retiree shelled out $698 last month for electricity to keep the heat at 55 degrees and to power the refrigerator.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
Annie Palmer,samantha Subin, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Steyer’s campaign shelled out payments to creators for as low as $60 and as high as $50,000, according to the latest filings.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Around the same time Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco announced their engagement in December 2024, the couple quietly shelled out $35 million for a sprawling Spanish-style estate in a prime pocket of Beverly Hills that was once owned by Joker and The Hangover director Todd Phillips.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 5 May 2026
Mark Davis paid $2 million for Vegas, while the group led by Larry Gottesdiener shelled out $5 million.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Control of the action series was a major reason why the company shelled out more than $8 billion to buy MGM Studios in 2022.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Jenner said that Hutchins planned to repay her prior to her untimely death and had already shelled out $75,000 toward her legal fees.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Payton said multiple times around the season’s end that Denver had too many drops in the passing game, but the Broncos haven’t shelled out in an inflated receiver market to fix that.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Even though Diane Bricker doesn’t live in her Ocean City, New Jersey, condo during the winter, the retiree shelled out $698 last month for electricity to keep the heat at 55 degrees and to power the refrigerator.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelled out
Verb
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Prosecutors said Alvarez was paid a salary of $58,000 through the organization.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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The funds, paid out through private lenders including banks and credit unions, were intended to help employers maintain payrolls, hire back employees who may have been laid off, and cover overhead costs.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Toomey spent an afternoon with Hulst in his final weeks.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Crow and Creepy, the call signs of two soldiers from the 24th Mechanized Brigade, have spent 344 and 334 days respectively, non-stop, in frontline dugouts.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shelled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelled%20out. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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