: 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
Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Here’s how things are shaping up.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shape-up
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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
With all that, this filing season is shaping up to be one where patience and preparation matter more than ever.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Here’s how things are shaping up.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
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 30 Jan. 2026.
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