as in forming
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 straightening (up or out)
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
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Recent Examples of shaping (up)
Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Big Sky, Montana This year is shaping up to be a banner one for Big Sky, a 5,850-acre resort (America’s second largest behind Park City) awash with steeps, trees, bumps, and a gnarly triple black diamond run called Big Couloir, which drops more than 1,400 feet with a sustained pitch of 50 degrees.
—Amy Tara Koch, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Local boys and girls teams from Harvard-Westlake, Hart, Saugus, El Camino and several other schools are shaping up for postseason runs.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
The bottom line Gold and silver serve different purposes in an investment portfolio, and 2026 is shaping up to be another year where those differences matter.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
For Texas audiences, a Houston native popping up in what’s shaping up to be the most maximalist studio film of the decade feels like a flex by proxy, especially when the reveal came during a football broadcast.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
With more specials, a new season, and a movie coming, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for PAW Patrol fans.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
Here’s how things are shaping up.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
In what’s shaping up to be a disruptive year for sports media, the NBA on Tuesday got out ahead of the field with a 2026 Finals schedule designed to sidestep a potentially massive World Cup match.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
And 2026 is shaping up to be the year to go.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Big Sky, Montana This year is shaping up to be a banner one for Big Sky, a 5,850-acre resort (America’s second largest behind Park City) awash with steeps, trees, bumps, and a gnarly triple black diamond run called Big Couloir, which drops more than 1,400 feet with a sustained pitch of 50 degrees.
—Amy Tara Koch, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Local boys and girls teams from Harvard-Westlake, Hart, Saugus, El Camino and several other schools are shaping up for postseason runs.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
The bottom line Gold and silver serve different purposes in an investment portfolio, and 2026 is shaping up to be another year where those differences matter.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
For Texas audiences, a Houston native popping up in what’s shaping up to be the most maximalist studio film of the decade feels like a flex by proxy, especially when the reveal came during a football broadcast.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
With more specials, a new season, and a movie coming, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for PAW Patrol fans.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
Here’s how things are shaping up.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
In what’s shaping up to be a disruptive year for sports media, the NBA on Tuesday got out ahead of the field with a 2026 Finals schedule designed to sidestep a potentially massive World Cup match.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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