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)
Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This is shaping up to be a slog.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
Watching the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination shape up suggests change is not coming soon for Democrats.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
The employment survey was shaping up as one of the most closely watched in years.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Verb
The company’s debut is shaping up as a referendum not on point-of-sale financing, but on whether AI can rewrite the economics of consumer finance.
—Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This is shaping up to be a slog.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
Watching the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination shape up suggests change is not coming soon for Democrats.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
The employment survey was shaping up as one of the most closely watched in years.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 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 15 Sep. 2025.
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