as in to form
to take on a definite form
this group of summer interns is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever hired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to improve
to change one's behavior or character for the better
told his son that if he didn't shape up, he'd be grounded for a month
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shape (up)
Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 15 June 2026
And 2026 is shaping up to be no different.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 June 2026
That’s especially possible during a strong El Niño event, as this one is shaping up to be.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
As Connecticut residents spend more time outdoors this summer, officials said this year is shaping up to be historically bad for ticks, as climate change and human development have created the perfect habitat.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Verb
Strawberry milk nails are shaping up to be one of summer’s biggest manicure trends.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 15 June 2026
And 2026 is shaping up to be no different.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 June 2026
That’s especially possible during a strong El Niño event, as this one is shaping up to be.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
As Connecticut residents spend more time outdoors this summer, officials said this year is shaping up to be historically bad for ticks, as climate change and human development have created the perfect habitat.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shape (up)
Verb
-
Thekla’s war on Stardom AEW women’s world champion Thekla has set her eyes on Stardom and re-opened the wound that formed following her departure from New Japan Pro-Wrestling.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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Acra described it as a fresh take on her beloved caftans, pointing out the looped draping technique that forms a billowy cape at the back.—
Ari Stark,
Footwear News,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The Knicks improved to 4-0 in closeout opportunities this season, winning them all on the road.—
Tim Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
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Parents and beauty enthusiasts alike praise its ability to smooth stubborn bumps and improve skin texture.—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Dose, absorption and your own physiology all change how phytic acid behaves in the body.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
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Scientists note that larger oral doses may behave differently, and more research is needed to understand how phytic acid affects mineral availability at the tissue level.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The town moved to amend its zoning regulations to allow for greater flexibility for those who want to convert older office properties into residential or mixed-use redevelopments, with Greenberg a vocal proponent of the changes.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
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The buyer—identified in the document as Sunrise North LLC—gets an irrevocable power of attorney authorizing it to pursue claims in the athlete’s name, settle claims, amend claim forms and take other actions related to recovery.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Good job, well done After 21 years of working to better the village’s economic picture, Sandra Zoellner, Park Forest’s director of economic development and planning, was the center of attention in a farewell tribute last Friday in Village Hall.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
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Overall, Hungary scored 25 goals in their four matches en route to the final, with Kocsis’ 11 for the tournament only bettered by France’s Just Fontaine’s 13 in 1958.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Why lawmakers want Section 702 reformed But critics of Section 702 say the warnings overstate the immediate threat because the current certifications will remain in effect until 2027.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
12 June 2026
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Hilton has already challenged Becerra to work with him on the campaign trail to reform the state's voter ID process.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shape (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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