pans out

verb

present tense third-person singular of pan out
1
as in proves
to come to be the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in succeeds
to turn out as planned or desired the investment scheme didn't quite pan out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pans out Maybe the trio of prospects never pans out, at least not the way the Tigers hope. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026 If everything pans out, Rose could be seeing his name in lights in Kansas City more often — and sooner, rather than later. — Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026 In this second story, Whitehead pans out from considering the identity of his hero to asking what a whole city is all about. — David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 Neither the cops nor the family were ever able to make contact with Simmons who was seen throwing a microwave, a lamp and several pots and pans out a rear window into the back yard. — Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026 If the industry pans out, the company says there’s the potential for collecting millions of tons a year. — Harry Stevens, New York Times, 3 June 2026 At the end, a giant Rodrigo picks up the hospital as the camera pans out to reveal that the hospital is a diorama and Rodrigo is in the process of moving. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 May 2026 The final shot features Andy, Nigel, and Miranda all working in their offices, as the camera pans out and zooms away from the high-rise building in what may be an homage to Working Girl (1988), a thematic inspiration for Prada’s screenwriter. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2026 Every once in a while, your friend's cousin's idea for a movie actually pans out. — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pans out
  1. proves
  2. succeeds
  3. goes
  4. works out
Verb
  • That firepower proves too much for USC, which gets beat at home for the first time since November 2024.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Documenting these metrics identifies areas for improvement and proves the program’s ROI.
    — Michelle Sims, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of proves
Verb
  • The film succeeds not only as an examination of the extraordinary quandary facing the couple but also simply as a compelling wartime drama featuring excellent performances from the two leads, who are, like most of the cast, non-professional actors.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The new flagship succeeds the X5 with native 8K50fps 360-degree video, up from 8K30fps, while retaining its familiar pocket-sized form.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of succeeds
Verb
  • And using an Enterprise Brain would assist as well with a memory that goes across the company.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The financial transaction is complete, the tax benefit is secured, and the question of where the money actually goes slides quietly to the bottom of the to-do list.
    — Nick Allardice, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of goes
Verb
  • Patrick Swindle, CoreCivic's President and CEO, told investors on an earnings call that that works out to an average rate of $307,000 per bed.
    — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Spread across 339 nodes, the $242,624 paid since December works out at roughly $715 each.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of works out

Browse Nearby Words

pans
pans out
pant
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Cite this Entry

“Pans out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pans%20out. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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