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
panning out
verb
1
as in proving
to come to be the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- proving
- coming out
- shaking out
- falling out
- turning out
- evolving
- emerging
- playing out
- developing
- working out
- unfolding
- germinating
2
as in succeeding
to turn out as planned or desired the investment scheme didn't quite pan out Synonyms & Similar Words
- succeeding
- bearing fruit
- going over
- working out
- coming off
- catching fire
- going
- doing the trick
- delivering the goods
- going like clockwork
- clicking
- catching on
- delivering
- flourishing
- prospering
- thriving
- cooking
- percolating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- striking out
- washing out
- missing
- failing
- collapsing
- folding
- bombing
- struggling
- flopping
- foundering
- languishing
- flunking
- declining
- falling down
- floundering
- slipping
- waning
- sinking
- slumping
- skidding
- crumbling
- flaming out
- crashing
- cratering
- choking
- cracking up
- going under
- misfiring
- miscarrying
- imploding
- self-destructing