1
as in proving
to come to be
the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in succeeding
to turn out as planned or desired
the investment scheme didn't quite pan out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of panning out
That is panning out with Knowles and Fanendo Adi, who will take over for Jeremy Hall as head coach of the Loons’ developmental team, MNUFC2.
—
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
Vrána not panning out hurt the Mantha return some, and many of the second-rounders Detroit acquired didn’t materialize either.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Thanks to partisan gerrymandering, once-competitive districts have now become easy targets that fundamentally prevent a truly massive seat haul from actually panning out.
—Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Earlier forecasts of high temperatures dropping into the 80s in the Dallas area weren't panning out, the weather service there said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Staffers at the restaurants told the Post the main sanctuary is vacant, a hint that the idea proposed in 2023 to put in a 320-seat, bi-level theater is not panning out.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2025
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
Vrána not panning out hurt the Mantha return some, and many of the second-rounders Detroit acquired didn’t materialize either.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Thanks to partisan gerrymandering, once-competitive districts have now become easy targets that fundamentally prevent a truly massive seat haul from actually panning out.
—Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Earlier forecasts of high temperatures dropping into the 80s in the Dallas area weren't panning out, the weather service there said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Staffers at the restaurants told the Post the main sanctuary is vacant, a hint that the idea proposed in 2023 to put in a 320-seat, bi-level theater is not panning out.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panning out
Verb
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The events of Sunday night — dominance on defense, big-time blocks and timely runs — were not the culmination of a Seahawks team outperforming a Las Vegas win total projection, proving pundits wrong and overcoming any odds.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Tartan aligns with all those aesthetics and plaid is already proving to show its strength.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bob Iger, named chief executive in 2005 succeeding Michael Eisner, left abruptly in 2000 and then parks chief Bob Chapek stepped in.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
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Aside from contributing more tax money and stimulating the economy, O’Leary also reasoned that some billionaires are self-made and shouldn’t be punished for succeeding financially in their careers.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While on the ground, video shows an officer coming out of the struggle holding a gun, which looks like the picture of the gun released by the Department of Homeland Security.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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After coming out of retirement ahead of the 2024 season, Lindsey Vonn, 41, has qualified for her fifth Olympics and her first since Pyeongchang 2018.—
Michelle Bruton,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Floor Tiles For floor tiles and grout, King recommends first going over your surfaces with a scrub brush and using a squeegee to dry.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
11 Feb. 2026
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Running back Javonte Williams, like Pickens, had a career year by going over 1,000 rushing yards.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Within six weeks, Costa had left, falling out with the club’s hierarchy about transfers.—
Adam Leventhal,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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That means long-standing favorites—yes, even predictable quartz slabs—are falling out of favor.—
Lauren Jones,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For the past two decades or so, Zurek has been working out how that happens.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some of them lived together, were working out together.—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This causes the outer layers of the star to expand and cool, evolving into a red giant, while the interior of the core heats up, intensifying the rate of fusion within it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
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Instead, as college hockey evolves, Motzko sees the Gophers program evolving with it, for the better.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Michael Hicks weighs in on how a copy‑paste bill has lawmakers going after degrees Indiana doesn’t even offer in his latest op-ed.—
Kurtcia Collazo,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
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At one point, NBC’s color commentator Cris Collinsworth openly wondered how many yards Walker had picked up after going backward.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Panning out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panning%20out. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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