pan out
verb
panned out; panning out; pans out
intransitive verb
: 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 
Synonyms
- come out
- fall out
- prove
- shake out
- turn out
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out the investment scheme didn't quite pan out
Word History
Etymology
pan entry 2
First Known Use
1865, in the meaning defined above
panned out
verb
1
as in proved
to come to be the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- proved
- turned out
- evolved
- fell out
- came out
- shook out
- played out
- emerged
- developed
- worked out
- unfolded
- germinated
2
as in succeeded
to turn out as planned or desired the investment scheme didn't quite pan out Synonyms & Similar Words
- succeeded
- worked out
- went
- went over
- caught fire
- bore fruit
- came off
- clicked
- delivered
- went like clockwork
- delivered the goods
- did the trick
- caught on
- flourished
- prospered
- cooked
- thrived
- percolated
- throve
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- washed out
- struck out
- failed
- missed
- folded
- collapsed
- bombed
- flopped
- flunked
- struggled
- foundered
- languished
- flamed out
- floundered
- declined
- slipped
- fell down
- sunk
- slumped
- waned
- sank
- crumbled
- skidded
- went under
- crashed
- cratered
- choked
- cracked up
- misfired
- miscarried
- imploded
- self-destructed