take shape

idiomatic phrase

: to assume a definite or distinctive form : to develop and become apparent or established
The plan is finally taking shape.
Edison's tireless work habits took shape during his childhood …Paul Gray
The proto-planetary fragments crashed together, coalesced by gravity, and crashed again into other fragments, until they gradually took shape as the planets we know today.M. Mitchell Waldrop
… the first half of the century, before the modern medical system took shape.Geoffrey Cowley

Examples of take shape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
People residing along the Eastern Seaboard, particularly those in coastal areas, are urged to follow local weather guidance and remain vigilant as the storm takes shape. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 The experience taught him how products take shape in real-time, where decisions about technology and design have an immediate impact. Matt Emma, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 As the up-and-coming defense market takes shape, there are some centers to keep an eye on, too. Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 The purr of an engine was the pulse of performance – until a quiet revolution started taking shape under the surface. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take shape

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take shape was in 1560

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Cite this Entry

“Take shape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20shape. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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