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
His organization has shelled out over $1 billion in aid to Ukraine, as well as large sums for agricultural development in Africa, and Central and South America.
—
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Hyperscalers Amazon, Meta Platforms and Microsoft have shelled out billions on AI products, tools and infrastructure for their customers.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
As of now, that would mean a buyout of more than $60 million—a mark nearly on par with what LSU shelled out to get rid of Brian Kelly.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 19 Dec. 2025
According to Democrats on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, each family in the United States has shelled out nearly $1,200 in tariff costs over the past 10 months alone.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
The Broncos promptly shelled out $35 million across three years for Dre Greenlaw, and Strnad faded back into the background.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 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
Key Facts LimeWire CEO Julian Zehetmayr, who helped acquire the company in 2022, told the Wall Street Journal his company shelled out $245,000 to win the rights to the Fyre Festival.
—Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Hyperscalers Amazon, Meta Platforms and Microsoft have shelled out billions on AI products, tools and infrastructure for their customers.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
As of now, that would mean a buyout of more than $60 million—a mark nearly on par with what LSU shelled out to get rid of Brian Kelly.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 19 Dec. 2025
According to Democrats on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, each family in the United States has shelled out nearly $1,200 in tariff costs over the past 10 months alone.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
The Broncos promptly shelled out $35 million across three years for Dre Greenlaw, and Strnad faded back into the background.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 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
Key Facts LimeWire CEO Julian Zehetmayr, who helped acquire the company in 2022, told the Wall Street Journal his company shelled out $245,000 to win the rights to the Fyre Festival.
—Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelled out
Verb
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This means some workers paid more tax during the year than their final liability will require.—
Emma Waldman,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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The court set a bail of $252,000, which was paid.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Why vocabulary avoidance creates the space populists fill European governments spent a decade learning that sloppy language inflames prejudice.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Vance, a Republican, has spent years passionately advocating for Americans to have more children.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shelled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelled%20out. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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