shell out

verb

shelled out; shelling out; shells out
Synonyms of shell outnext
: pay

Examples of shell out in a Sentence

we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Nvidia itself previously used the tactic, shelling out more than $900 million in September to hire Enfabrica CEO Rochan Sankar and other employees at the AI hardware startup, and to license the company’s technology, CNBC reported at the time. Ari Levy, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2025 Fans will have to shell out big bucks to follow whatever team makes the Fiesta Bowl for the semifinals in Glendale, Arizona, or the national championship game in Miami Gardens, Florida. Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald, 23 Dec. 2025 There is a warning for those ready to shell out those big bucks. Sara MacHi, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025 As of now, that would mean a buyout of more than $60 million—a mark nearly on par with what LSU shelled out to get rid of Brian Kelly. Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 19 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shell out

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shell out was in 1801

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shell%20out. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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