shape (up) 1 of 2

verb (1)

Definition of shape (up)next
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

shape up

2 of 2

verb (2)

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shape (up)
Verb
Just how Wrexham and Swansea will fare in what is shaping up as among the most competitive of Championship seasons remains to be seen. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 Either way, 2027 shapes up as a pivotal year for the company. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 The research arrives as experts and officials warn that the current El Niño, which began forming in June, is shaping up to be the strongest ever experienced by a considerable margin. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 With current markdowns being as steep as 60 percent off, the holiday weekend is shaping up to be a particularly good time for scoring a new-season bag without putting your wallet in the crosshairs. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shape (up)
  1. form
  2. improve
  3. behave
  4. amend
  5. better
  6. reform
Verb
  • Italian craftsmen spent about 30 months hand-forming the Elegante's aluminum body, while lowering the chassis by eight inches to give the car its rakish stance.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Cinnamon ferns form hummocks, with tightly wound fiddleheads stretching upwards toward the sun, just beginning to unfurl into emerald fronds.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of form
Verb
  • The developers say automating pollination could reduce the need for manual labor, lower breeding costs, and improve the efficiency of hybrid breeding.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Back in 2004, the Chargers improved from 31st in points allowed to 11th after the arrival of new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
    — Zak Keefer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of improve
Verb
  • The researchers considered an idealized case in which both rubidium and krypton atoms behaved as bosons.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • In Empa's earlier work, introducing phosphorus dramatically changed how the epoxy behaved in a fire.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • Unlike all of these, but very much like the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, which has been amended more than a hundred times, it was meant to be revised, updated, and improved.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • And others have not followed Texas in attempting to amend their bans.
    — Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • Yet again, nobody on the field bettered the Bosnian’s 13 defensive contributions, the majority of which came down to his nine clearances.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Parton dedicated her life and career to bettering the world in so many ways, from her Dollywood theme park to her Imagination Library, which has promoted childhood literacy through delivering millions of books to children.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of better
Verb
  • But to enable ambitious research, the United States should take steps to reform the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
    — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
  • All the austerity options—cutting spending, reforming entitlements, or raising taxes are measures politicians are reluctant to embrace before an election.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of reform

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shapes up
shape (up)
shape up
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Cite this Entry

“Shape (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape%20%28up%29. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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