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
Mega-cap tech companies are shelling out billions of dollars to build out AI infrastructure.
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Paulina Likos,zev Fima, CNBC, 7 Nov. 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
Paulina Likos,zev Fima, CNBC, 7 Nov. 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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On average, paying cash for care could be cheaper especially with lower-cost options like telemedicine and urgent care.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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With Apple Intelligence still months away from broad rollout and upgrade elasticity weakening, investors may be paying a premium for a business entering a slower-growth phase.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Chinese leader then toured the vessel, including inspecting the mess hall and giving a trial press of the ship’s catapult button, according to CCTV.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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At Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders voted in favor of giving CEO Musk a gargantuan, record-shattering pay package that could give him stock worth $1 trillion after several years.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shelling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelling%20out. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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