Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

pan

[pan] / pæn /


VERB
look, search for over a wide area
Synonyms
Antonyms




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Even if the AI trade doesn’t pan out, Brazil’s stock market could still benefit from its significant exposure to energy should the country’s economy expand under potentially new fiscal policies.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

The prospector with his pan and pickax gave way to powerful water cannons that blasted away gold-bearing hillsides, leaving behind incoherent geological arabesques that will likely outlast the pyramids.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Malaysia proved that promise was more than a flash in the pan.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

Expect a high-scoring game, but sometimes when everything points to lots of touchdowns, it doesn’t pan out that way.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

See Mama swatting a frying pan of flames with a dish towel.

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The BBC’s China correspondent Laura Bicker unpacks how the trip panned out for Beijing and Washington.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

However, his last major public appearance after the July meeting was widely panned as giving an ambiguous message, and analysts warn that his refusal to give forward guidance will likely mean investors are left disappointed.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

When Wertheim bought the Ferrari on Saturday at Sotheby’s charity auction during Monterey Car Week in Monterey, Calif., he paid millions over the estimated sale price, despite the Luce being panned.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

“We wanted to tap into the teen nostalgia of sleepovers, and things we always wanted to do at sleepovers, but never panned out in the way you imagine in movies,” said Mathers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

The camera panned back to the reporter, who talked about the police investigation and Amber Alert.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Then, b-roll, panning above a vast two-wing building identifiable as a hospital by its helipad.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

While he was searching for a missing goat he encountered a group of women panning along a riverbed.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

Key to how Morgan Stanley sees things panning out is the non-consensus view of the investment bank’s economists who believe the Fed will stay on hold in 2026.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

Companies have a hard time telling which of their AI investments are panning out, according to a survey of corporate executives conducted by the technology and management-consulting firm Emergn.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

He turned to the fishermen in the crowd, panning over each in turn as he spoke.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack


Vocabulary lists containing pan

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training