: a system of hiring workers and especially longshoremen by the day or shift by having applicants gather for each day's selection
also
: an instance of such hiring practice
shaped up; shaping up; shapes up
: to improve to a good or acceptable condition or standard of behavior
shaping up at the gym
: to bring to a good or acceptable condition or standard of behavior
Examples of shape-up in a Sentence
Verb
told his son that if he didn't shape up, he'd be grounded for a month
this group of summer interns is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever hired
Recent Examples on the Web
A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 7 Dec. 2023
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Week 8 is shaping up as a pivotal stretch, with potent offenses trying to overcome injuries and struggling defenses aiming to make a statement before the second half of the season.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape-up
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.
Noun
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut Is there anything more powerful than a fresh shape-up?
—A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 7 Dec. 2023
Verb
The 2028 presidential election may still be years away, but Democrats are already strategizing for what’s shaping up to be a monumental contest.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Week 8 is shaping up as a pivotal stretch, with potent offenses trying to overcome injuries and struggling defenses aiming to make a statement before the second half of the season.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape-up
Cite this Entry
“Shape-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shape-up. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share