pan out
verb
panned out; panning out; pans out
: to happen, end, or develop in a particular way : turn out
I'm really enjoying how this is all panning out now and it is so exciting and intriguing to watch and find out what happens next …—
Gary Neville
Gary Neville
especially
: succeed
… the signs revealed that the experiment wasn't panning out … —Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan She [Dixie Hollins] noted that learning about arts and entertainment fills her creative side and works as a great plan B if her goal of working in the medical field doesn't pan out. —Karin Davis-Thompson
Karin Davis-Thompson Examples of pan out in a Sentence
the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out
the investment scheme didn't quite pan out
Recent Examples on the Web
If Purdy isn’t available for the 49ers, his backup is veteran Mac Jones, the New England Patriots’ 2021 first-round pick who didn’t pan out.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
But Julianne and Derek also have three sisters who had an early interest in the entertainment industry that never panned out.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
If his master plan doesn’t pan out, there won’t be much left of Tesla.
—Patrick George, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
Like other efforts, Brazil didn’t pan out.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pan out
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Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
But Julianne and Derek also have three sisters who had an early interest in the entertainment industry that never panned out.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
If his master plan doesn’t pan out, there won’t be much left of Tesla.
—Patrick George, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
Like other efforts, Brazil didn’t pan out.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pan out
Cite this Entry
“Pan out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pan%20out. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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