pan out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, neutral. Common in spoken and informal written English.
Quick answer
What does “pan out” mean?
To develop or conclude in a particular way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To develop or conclude in a particular way; to yield a result (often in the context of long-term plans or expectations).
To prove to be successful or worthwhile; to turn out well. The idiom originates from the process of washing gold-bearing gravel in a pan, where the outcome (finding gold) was uncertain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in meaning, frequency, and connotation. No significant regional variation.
Connotations
Suggests a process of waiting to see the final, often uncertain, outcome. Neutral; can be used for positive, negative, or neutral results.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “pan out” in a Sentence
Subject (plan/situation) + pan outIt + (negative auxiliary) + pan out + adverb/prepositional phrase (e.g., as planned, well, badly)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pan out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We'll have to wait and see how the new housing development pans out.
- His scheme to get rich quick didn't pan out.
American English
- If this job interview pans out, we could move to Chicago.
- Their initial idea never panned out, so they switched strategies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to discuss the success or failure of projects, investments, or strategies over time (e.g., 'The merger didn't pan out as expected').
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose, but may appear in informal discussions of research outcomes.
Everyday
Very common for discussing life plans, events, or relationships (e.g., 'Let's see how the weekend plans pan out').
Technical
Not typically used in technical domains, except perhaps metaphorically in fields like project management.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pan out”
- Using it transitively (e.g., *'I panned out the plan' is wrong).
- Confusing it with 'pan' meaning 'to criticise' (e.g., 'The film was panned by critics').
- Using it for immediate results rather than processes that unfold over time.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, very commonly, e.g., 'It didn't pan out', 'How did the meeting pan out?'
It is neutral to informal. It is common in speech and informal writing but is usually replaced by more formal terms like 'culminate' or 'come to fruition' in very formal contexts.
No. It simply means 'to develop or conclude'. The result can be good, bad, or neutral. It is often used in the negative ('didn't pan out').
It comes from gold prospecting in the 19th century. Miners would wash gravel in a shallow pan ('panning for gold') to see if any valuable gold nuggets or dust would be left behind as a result. The 'out' refers to the result emerging from the process.
To develop or conclude in a particular way.
Pan out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpæn ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpæn ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “strike it rich”
- “hit paydirt”
- “bear fruit”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a gold prospector PANning for gold in a river. He shakes the pan, waiting to see if any gold will be left at the bottom—if his efforts PAN OUT. So, when you wait to see the result of your efforts, you see if they 'pan out'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GOLD PROSPECTING JOURNEY (uncertain endeavours are sifted like gravel to find valuable results).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'pan out' used CORRECTLY?