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
Paul GrayThe 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
M. Mitchell Waldrop… the first half of the century, before the modern medical system took shape.—Geoffrey Cowley
Geoffrey CowleyExamples of take shape in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When Obamacare was taking shape, some lawmakers envisioned a public option — a government-run plan that would compete alongside private insurance.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 20 Apr. 2024
As local leaders’ ambitions to host the Olympics took shape, so did plans to dramatically expand the region’s rail network in time for the Games.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Modern Ethiopia only began to take shape in the 1860s, when a capable military entrepreneur defeated or intimidated his rivals and centralized power.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
As catalysts for change, they are tasked with knowing how to introduce ideas and who to influence to have those ideas take shape.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Getting To Modern Digital Identity In its early days as networks coalesced, email systems advanced and the internet took shape, AD emerged as an indispensable and widely used enterprise tool.
—Eric Olden, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The women’s Sweet 16 is just taking shape, with more games Monday.
—Trisha Garcia-Easto, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
The mayor also announced a new Healthy Morgan Hill initiative, a city-wide effort to encourage healthy living, and asked for community input on how these efforts might take shape.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
Their results showed that in order for the rings to take shape, gas bubbles need to be released from the top of a channel carrying magma to the surface.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 20 Apr. 2024
As local leaders’ ambitions to host the Olympics took shape, so did plans to dramatically expand the region’s rail network in time for the Games.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Modern Ethiopia only began to take shape in the 1860s, when a capable military entrepreneur defeated or intimidated his rivals and centralized power.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
As catalysts for change, they are tasked with knowing how to introduce ideas and who to influence to have those ideas take shape.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Getting To Modern Digital Identity In its early days as networks coalesced, email systems advanced and the internet took shape, AD emerged as an indispensable and widely used enterprise tool.
—Eric Olden, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The women’s Sweet 16 is just taking shape, with more games Monday.
—Trisha Garcia-Easto, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
The mayor also announced a new Healthy Morgan Hill initiative, a city-wide effort to encourage healthy living, and asked for community input on how these efforts might take shape.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
Their results showed that in order for the rings to take shape, gas bubbles need to be released from the top of a channel carrying magma to the surface.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take shape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near take shape
Cite this Entry
“Take shape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20shape. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share