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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
As this chart from Nancy Vanden Houten at Oxford Economics shows, the 2026 fiscal year was shaping up to have smaller deficits than 2025, until very recently. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a major season for statement footwear, but one of the most polished trends, the high-vamp pump, is surprisingly understated. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026 Here's how the primaries in those key districts — as well as an open seat in the 7th Congressional District, where the son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is vying to win — are shaping up. — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Halloween 2026 is already shaping up to be a big year for coordinated costumes, with families getting creative about dressing up together. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 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
  • The luxury of doing less Arriving on the largest island in the Grenadine archipelago, one that was formed millions of years ago by volcanic activity, Sandals Saint Vincent is the latest addition to the company’s portfolio.
    — Judith Garrison, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Ataii, Streiff, Pirnazar and Kuo also are two-way players and form a core group of seniors with Pruter.
    — Dan Albano, Oc Register, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of form
Verb
  • Pawloski said Amazon seemed to invest fewer resources into improving MTurk at the same time as more data labeling services arrived, causing many turkers to shift to competing platforms.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This non-greasy, lightweight formula improves scalp health to promote healthy, thicker, and faster hair growth.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of improve
Verb
  • The incident was quickly followed by a slew of other companies reporting instances where AI agents behaved in unexpected ways.
    — Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In another part of the study, the research team saw that fat cells behaved differently when drenched with blood collected from the HIIT folks, including changes involved in many genes that regulate fat and whole-body metabolism.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • The latest vote takes a key step in a yearslong process to amend the city’s planning, and included potential increases in density in urban areas and additions of parking requirements.
    — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • On August 10, the CFTC amended ElectronX’s designation to permit intermediated trading through futures commission merchants.
    — Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • His revered mentor, José Antonio Abreu, who founded the educational program in 1975 with the conviction that learning music can, in bettering lives, lead to profound social change.
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Asking for feedback is only one step of the process in bettering your organization.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of better
Verb
  • For organizers who gathered, the demand goes beyond reforming how the technology is used.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In parallel, the United Kingdom is also seeking to accelerate its own regulatory processes by reforming its framework for rare disease therapies.
    — Kimberley Jane Barnes, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of reform

Browse Nearby Words

shapes up
shape (up)
shape up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shape (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape%20%28up%29. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of southpaw

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All