as in spending
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 shelling out
Nvidia itself previously used the tactic, shelling out more than $900 million in September to hire Enfabrica CEO Rochan Sankar and other employees at the AI hardware startup, and to license the company’s technology, CNBC reported at the time.
—
Ari Levy, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2025
Before shelling out a significant portion of their cash for a diamond engagement ring or other fine jewelry, purchasers depended on conventional jewelers for in-person assurance for decades.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The value in sitting coaches is considered higher as schools are shelling out, on average, more than $13 million in revenue sharing dollars to pay players.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
While young players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and others are fighting for better pay for their industry-shifting work, college football programs are shelling out $40 million to $50 million payouts to get their underperforming coaches to stop showing up to the office.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Other fast food chains have noted the emergence of a two-tier economy—of high-income earners shelling out for meals, while low-income earners tighten their belts.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Upwards of 7m Americans are climbers, with many shelling out more than $1k per year for climbing gym memberships.
—Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
As its software spills into more areas of online life, OpenAI is shelling out billions to become a leading player in the physical infrastructure for the AI future.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
Both of these should be included when shelling out that kind of cash, in my opinion.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Ari Levy, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2025
Before shelling out a significant portion of their cash for a diamond engagement ring or other fine jewelry, purchasers depended on conventional jewelers for in-person assurance for decades.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The value in sitting coaches is considered higher as schools are shelling out, on average, more than $13 million in revenue sharing dollars to pay players.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
While young players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and others are fighting for better pay for their industry-shifting work, college football programs are shelling out $40 million to $50 million payouts to get their underperforming coaches to stop showing up to the office.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Other fast food chains have noted the emergence of a two-tier economy—of high-income earners shelling out for meals, while low-income earners tighten their belts.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Upwards of 7m Americans are climbers, with many shelling out more than $1k per year for climbing gym memberships.
—Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
As its software spills into more areas of online life, OpenAI is shelling out billions to become a leading player in the physical infrastructure for the AI future.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
Both of these should be included when shelling out that kind of cash, in my opinion.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelling out
Verb
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To be sure, the AI boom could deliver that revenue surge—but even slight weakening in spending growth across the industry could hit CoreWeave disproportionately.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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For example, financial therapist Aja Evans recommends leaning into self-care activities that cost little to no money, like going outside and spending time with family and friends.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In doing so, drivers can ensure their insurer has accurate information, thereby keeping them protected without paying more than necessary.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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No one likes paying for insurance — and mounting premiums in 2025 didn't help matters.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If Carolina is thinking about the big picture, giving Coker the extra year, perhaps valued as a first- or second-round tender, is just getting ahead of a formality.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
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Luckily, Madewell is giving us something to celebrate this season with a surprise sale on cold-weather clothing essentials with prices starting as low as $20.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shelling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelling%20out. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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