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
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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
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Recent Examples of shape (up)
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 15 Oct. 2025
This could shape up as one of the cleaner and better games of Nix’s young NFL tenure.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
This year is shaping up to become one of the hottest on record.
—Jon-David Regis, NBC news, 12 Oct. 2025
And labor friction at Sharp HealthCare, and potentially UC San Diego Health, indicates that this fall is shaping up to be a season of labor unrest.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Verb
The cover sheet of the rankings stated that CIF-SS Division 1 is shaping up to be a 12-16 team division.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 15 Oct. 2025
This could shape up as one of the cleaner and better games of Nix’s young NFL tenure.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
This year is shaping up to become one of the hottest on record.
—Jon-David Regis, NBC news, 12 Oct. 2025
And labor friction at Sharp HealthCare, and potentially UC San Diego Health, indicates that this fall is shaping up to be a season of labor unrest.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Cite this Entry
“Shape (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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