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
While not all of them have panned out—the HoloLens mixed-reality headset, for example, was effectively shut down last year—one big wager has: generative AI.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 4 June 2024
If the bill doesn’t pan out, the question will go to voters via a ballot measure in the 2024 election.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 3 June 2024
At least on Friday, their push to pump up the stock didn't pan out.
—Rafael Nam, NPR, 2 June 2024
There certainly are some more economic concerns in the mix so time will tell if this pans out.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for pan out 
Fortune Editors, Fortune, 4 June 2024
If the bill doesn’t pan out, the question will go to voters via a ballot measure in the 2024 election.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 3 June 2024
At least on Friday, their push to pump up the stock didn't pan out.
—Rafael Nam, NPR, 2 June 2024
There certainly are some more economic concerns in the mix so time will tell if this pans out.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for pan out
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pan out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pan out
Cite this Entry
“Pan out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pan%20out. Accessed 8 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share