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
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
Meta has also been on an aggressive AI spending spree, shelling out more than $72 billion for data centers and other AI infrastructure in 2025.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
While content creators can purchase their own tickets — often shelling out thousands for entry — many are invited by brands, some of which offer to cover airfare, accommodations and passes into the festival.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
An $80 round trip to see the World Cup, in addition to shelling out for tickets is well out of reach.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
However, the only highly visible campaign is that of billionaire Steyer, who’s not only hopping around the state for personal appearances but shelling out millions of his own bucks for television and internet ads.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, taxpayers are shelling out $273,063 per hour to keep Air Force One in the air.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
For others, the decision to sell the refund rights was worth it to not deal with shelling out resources for a legal team or the headache of understanding and then undergoing the process to receive the refunds.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
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
Meta has also been on an aggressive AI spending spree, shelling out more than $72 billion for data centers and other AI infrastructure in 2025.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
While content creators can purchase their own tickets — often shelling out thousands for entry — many are invited by brands, some of which offer to cover airfare, accommodations and passes into the festival.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
An $80 round trip to see the World Cup, in addition to shelling out for tickets is well out of reach.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
However, the only highly visible campaign is that of billionaire Steyer, who’s not only hopping around the state for personal appearances but shelling out millions of his own bucks for television and internet ads.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, taxpayers are shelling out $273,063 per hour to keep Air Force One in the air.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
For others, the decision to sell the refund rights was worth it to not deal with shelling out resources for a legal team or the headache of understanding and then undergoing the process to receive the refunds.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelling out
Verb
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His lips were sunburned after spending three days leading a group down the Rio Grande.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Now the company seeks to expand on last year’s win by spending vast sums — putting up more than $70 million so far — on a California ballot measure campaign to cap attorney fees in car crash cases.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Local unions can avoid a recertification vote by having 60% of teachers paying dues, which automatically re-certifies the chapter.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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Under this framework, companies connecting significant new demand to the grid are responsible for paying the costs associated with serving their projects, including 100% of any new power generation required to serve their needs.—
Scott Bores,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Verb
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And the end came well before midnight, with goals by Mitch Marner and Brett Howden in the first 8½ minutes giving Vegas a commanding lead before many in the late-arriving weeknight crowd had made it to their seats at the Honda Center.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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Las Vegas moved on from the quarterback this offseason in favor of Cousins and Mendoza, less than a year after giving Smith more than $58 million guaranteed.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shelling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelling%20out. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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