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
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
Organizations like Meta have shelled out billions of dollars to recruit top AI talent in an effort to try and gain an edge.
—Ashley Capoot,samantha Subin, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
Roku then picked up the rights for a spartan $10 million—about a third of what Peacock shelled out in each year of its contract.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 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
Over that time, Kansas City has significantly reduced its investment in its skill positions and shelled out money for less-than-stellar play elsewhere.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
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
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
Organizations like Meta have shelled out billions of dollars to recruit top AI talent in an effort to try and gain an edge.
—Ashley Capoot,samantha Subin, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
Roku then picked up the rights for a spartan $10 million—about a third of what Peacock shelled out in each year of its contract.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 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
Over that time, Kansas City has significantly reduced its investment in its skill positions and shelled out money for less-than-stellar play elsewhere.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelled out
Verb
-
The election results could spur one party to reach a deal sooner rather than later, clearing the way for federal employees and benefits to be paid again.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In addition to the rent freeze, Mamdani has proposed to make city buses free and to provide universal childcare, paid for with higher taxes on the rich.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Brenda Greathouse, Founder and CEO of Legacy Drives Life™, has spent her career at the intersection of information, innovation, and humanity, guiding businesses through this very tech transformation.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The next year, Huffman returned as CEO and spent a decade turning the company around.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shelled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelled%20out. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share