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
All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) first Clockwork Carnage is shaping up to be a hard-hitting affair. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 The movie is now shaping up to be one of the biggest studio bombs ever considering its budget was north of $160 million. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 The British pop singer had a major breakthrough last year after winning Best New Artist, and is already shaping up to be a Grammy favorite. — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026 The 2026 campaign is shaping up as a referendum on the power of money in American politics. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 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
  • O’Rourke and double bassist Johan Berthling shape a steady drone, while Ishibashi’s piano runs suggest time-lapse footage of ice crystals forming, ordinary little bits cohering into objects of wonder.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Dyrholm, whose credits include Susanne Bier’s Oscar-winner In a Better World, Magnus von Horn’s The Girl With The Needle and Nikolaj Arcel’s A Royal Affair, will play Linda, an intimacy coordinator who struggles to form intimate connections.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of form
Verb
  • The company is reviewing costs, operations, and portfolio of brands to improve performance.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But Hall and Woodford, in separate contributions, set about improving the Keynesian model to take into account how consumers and businesses actually make decisions about whether to invest and spend.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of improve
Verb
  • Their primary role has been to assess AI model capabilities and risks and to flag instances where the technology behaves badly.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The snow pile in the parking lot Heat can behave in surprising ways.
    — Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • State law allows cities of Roseville’s size to establish council salaries of $2,550 per month, although the city’s charter must be amended by voters before the new compensation rules can take effect.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Vaccaro filed for divorce in April last year and amended her divorce petition to include the domestic violence allegations.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • Thompson continued to make his case that years in Congress give him the experience and influence needed to better the district.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • His hopes for The Situation is to better the experience of other disadvantaged creatives climbing the ranks today.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of better
Verb
  • Over time, the objectives of this opposition have shifted from reforming the regime to challenging its authority.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Since becoming Health and Human Services secretary, Kennedy has aggressively tried to reform existing vaccine policy.
    — Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 14 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All