take shape

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

By Friday, a makeshift memorial had taken shape outside Silver Rail Elementary School. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

But as the ensemble cast around them began to take shape, each name left me more confused about what the film‘s vision could possibly be. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026

After a slow start to the season following yet another quarterback shuffle, the productive passing attack the Vikings have been trying to recreate for nearly two years has begun to take shape. — CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

The model is now taking shape in an entirely different setting. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take shape

• cityscape
• agape
• escape
• landscape
• lenape
• reshape
• seascape
• soundscape
• ape
• cape
• crape
• crepe