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
Their first venture didn’t pan out after opening in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2025
Though buzzy, these deals don’t always pan out, which may be one reason why the appetite for buying them seems to have dwindled in recent years.
—Jemima McEvoy, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Big spending and experimentation doesn’t always pan out.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
Satellites could have a longer life and space become a bit tidier if Starfish Space's Otter Pup 2 mission pans out.
—New Atlas, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pan out
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Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2025
Though buzzy, these deals don’t always pan out, which may be one reason why the appetite for buying them seems to have dwindled in recent years.
—Jemima McEvoy, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Big spending and experimentation doesn’t always pan out.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
Satellites could have a longer life and space become a bit tidier if Starfish Space's Otter Pup 2 mission pans out.
—New Atlas, 22 May 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 3 Jun. 2025.
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