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
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
In June, Meta shelled out more than $14 billion to hire Wang and some of his top engineers and researchers, soon creating Meta Superintelligence Labs as a new elite unit.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 9 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
Kalshi shelled out at least $1 million on lobbying last year—a record for the eight-year-old company.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 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
The Pentagon has shelled out nearly $5 billion over the past year to spur mining.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
The Pentagon has shelled out nearly $5 billion over the past year to spur mining.
—Didi Tang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Brent Lang, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
In June, Meta shelled out more than $14 billion to hire Wang and some of his top engineers and researchers, soon creating Meta Superintelligence Labs as a new elite unit.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 9 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
Kalshi shelled out at least $1 million on lobbying last year—a record for the eight-year-old company.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 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
The Pentagon has shelled out nearly $5 billion over the past year to spur mining.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
The Pentagon has shelled out nearly $5 billion over the past year to spur mining.
—Didi Tang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelled out
Verb
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That immediately paid dividends when Jones hit a double down the left field line.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Property owners are given about three months’ notice and paid compensation at rates set by the municipality.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gould spent the next two days in a coma in the intensive care unit, on a ventilator.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Amenities and experiences Most of my afternoons were spent idling at the heated infinity pool, glass of African wine in hand, overlooking the crater.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shelled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelled%20out. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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