shelling out

verb

present participle of shell out
as in spending
to hand over or use up in payment we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shelling out Gen Z reported the highest average expenditure on fine art in 2025 and 2026, shelling out more than twice the amount of any older generation surveyed. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 This could add up fast for Gen Zers already shelling out money for tuition. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 But shelling out the dough doesn’t automatically grant access; potential members are vetted through a rigorous application process. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026 That’s the standard that USC was expecting in shelling out over $11 million per year to its football coach. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 Per Lambrook’s official website, Middleton and William will be shelling out a tuition cost of £11,176, or $15,144, for Charlotte and £10,270, or $13,917, for Louis, per term. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 15 Sep. 2026 After shelling out more than $5 billion to support LIV, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund with $900 billion assets under management pulled back on its financial support this past April. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 8 Sep. 2026 If your crew wants one big memorable activity (and doesn't mind shelling out some dough), this is it. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026 Elena Chertovskikh | Istock Editorial | Getty Images Even if vacationers continue shelling out, higher costs for a discretionary experience like travel could weigh on their psyche, according to Brian LeBlanc, PNC’s senior economist. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelling out
  1. spending
  2. paying
  3. giving
Verb
  • In the employer market, more recent data suggest the volumes of prescriptions — which are proprietary — are driving up spending more than prices, although prices are still a factor.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Born and raised in Flushing, Queens, to a Chinese family, Liu developed an early interest in beauty, recalling spending hours painting her nails after school.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of spending
Verb
  • Among the most intriguing possibilities, Brouhard said, is that Gulf nations exporting oil are surreptitiously paying Iran fees in exchange for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz – even as they’re secured by US military escorts.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The pay-as-you-go option is perfectly timed for Grand Theft Auto VI, allowing those who don’t own an Xbox, or who primarily play from a phone, to stream the game by paying for a bundle of hours.
    — Tom Warren, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of paying
Verb
  • There, local fishermen demonstrated their sustainable crayfish harvesting process, and as a spectacular touch, the helicopter lifted one of the crayfish tanks straight out of the ocean, giving our client a dramatic view of the abundant catch.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The other group is a little more spread out, giving more opportunity.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of giving

Browse Nearby Words

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shelling out
shell out
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Cite this Entry

“Shelling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelling%20out. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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