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
By shelling out dollars to upgrade their rosters.
—
Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Ma was the only candidate who saw opposition spending, with a committee named Taxpayers Against Sexual Harassment By Government Officials shelling out nearly $753,000 for ads trying to persuade voters not to cast their ballots in favor of the current treasurer.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
These lawsuits have caused a major headache for the NCAA as the association navigates uncharted territory, where big-name college athletic departments are shelling out millions of dollars on their rosters for high-profile sports such as football and basketball.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2026
Afternoon tea is huge in Tokyo, with diners shelling out nearly 90 billion yen each year to nibble scones and petit-fours.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
The Delta Business Traveler program may actually be a good way for new business owners to begin wading their way into the world of business perks without shelling out meaningful cash on annual fees or membership pricing.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Even some of the biggest tech- and AI-focused companies in the world are shelling out million-dollar pay packages for people who can lead communications efforts at a high level.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 28 May 2026
They were supposed to take a big step forward after finally shelling out a bit of money in the offseason.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Even just a percentage-point contrast can mean shelling out hundreds more per month on your mortgage payment.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 4 May 2026
Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Ma was the only candidate who saw opposition spending, with a committee named Taxpayers Against Sexual Harassment By Government Officials shelling out nearly $753,000 for ads trying to persuade voters not to cast their ballots in favor of the current treasurer.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
These lawsuits have caused a major headache for the NCAA as the association navigates uncharted territory, where big-name college athletic departments are shelling out millions of dollars on their rosters for high-profile sports such as football and basketball.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2026
Afternoon tea is huge in Tokyo, with diners shelling out nearly 90 billion yen each year to nibble scones and petit-fours.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
The Delta Business Traveler program may actually be a good way for new business owners to begin wading their way into the world of business perks without shelling out meaningful cash on annual fees or membership pricing.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Even some of the biggest tech- and AI-focused companies in the world are shelling out million-dollar pay packages for people who can lead communications efforts at a high level.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 28 May 2026
They were supposed to take a big step forward after finally shelling out a bit of money in the offseason.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Even just a percentage-point contrast can mean shelling out hundreds more per month on your mortgage payment.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelling out
Verb
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Roughly 20% to 30% of operating expenses will come from spending on agents versus humans in the next three to four years, according to a new report summarizing the views of C-suite leaders from consultancy Bain & Company.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
10 June 2026
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Cardholders also earn 2,500 bonus miles when spending $10,000 each calendar year.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Verb
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After signing a waiver, strapping on a helmet and paying a $30 fee, audience members can ride along in the passenger seat of a professional driver’s drift car.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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Gas taxes ultimately make up just a small portion of the amount consumers are paying at the pump.—
Becca Stanek,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Local groups Sin Tope and Making Movies performed on the festival’s main stage, giving fans a chance to decompress and have some fun, rather than stressing about their favorite team.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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Hunter Biden has reemerged in recent weeks online, posting on X and giving interviews about his life in recovery for his substance use disorder and ensuing legal troubles created political headaches for his father.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shelling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelling%20out. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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