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
Sadly, this season didn't pan out the way Cardinals fans had hoped when the front office successfully retooled the pitching staff last winter.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
What’s more, early studies also suggested that statins, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and insulin had a positive effect on Alzheimer’s, but none of those treatments panned out.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024
While not every pilot will pan out, one of them may turn out to be the rocket ship that takes us to new levels of success.
—Alexandre Douzet, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
Had the Vision Pro’s, well, vision panned out, Meta may have been more inclined to pursue the pricy premium category of VR headset.
—Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pan out 
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
What’s more, early studies also suggested that statins, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and insulin had a positive effect on Alzheimer’s, but none of those treatments panned out.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024
While not every pilot will pan out, one of them may turn out to be the rocket ship that takes us to new levels of success.
—Alexandre Douzet, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
Had the Vision Pro’s, well, vision panned out, Meta may have been more inclined to pursue the pricy premium category of VR headset.
—Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 25 Sep. 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 5 Nov. 2024.
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