as in spends
to hand over or use up in payment
we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets
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Recent Examples of shells out
Google already shells out billions to Apple each year to be the default search engine on iPhones.
—
Samantha Subin, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Samantha Subin, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shells out
Verb
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The new fee structure charges a $60 per hour rate, even if an inspector only spends a half-hour on the property.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
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New York City spends more money per capita than any other major city in the country, but there’s no way to save money.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whoever leaves last probably pays.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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An impressive wine list pays tribute to the late Melvyn Master, Waxman's esteemed sommelier and former partner (the restaurant’s name comes from Jonathan and Melvyn).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That gives Takaichi a clear path to deliver on her agenda over the coming years – until the next election in 2027.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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The speech and debate clause, under Article 1, Section 6, of the Constitution, gives these members immunity from liability for defamation when reading the list of names aloud in court.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shells out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shells%20out. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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