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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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)
Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
But Tuesday, the first trading day of September, is shaping up to be a tough one, as investors grapple with a laundry list of worries for the month.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
The race had shaped up as one of the best of the 35 runnings of the Pacific Classic after Repole and Pletcher decided to ship Fierceness out from New York and lead owner Aron Wellman and trainer McCarthy opted to keep Journalism in California.
—Kevin Modesti, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
The Verdict This year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup shapes up as one of the deepest renewals in recent memory.
—Jared Welch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Verb
But 2025 is shaping up to be a much better year for the species in comparison.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
But Tuesday, the first trading day of September, is shaping up to be a tough one, as investors grapple with a laundry list of worries for the month.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
The race had shaped up as one of the best of the 35 runnings of the Pacific Classic after Repole and Pletcher decided to ship Fierceness out from New York and lead owner Aron Wellman and trainer McCarthy opted to keep Journalism in California.
—Kevin Modesti, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
The Verdict This year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup shapes up as one of the deepest renewals in recent memory.
—Jared Welch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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