Synonyms of shaping (up)

shaping (up) 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of shape (up)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forming
• crystallizing
• connecting
• linking (up)
• solidifying
• joining
• combining
• jelling
• coupling
• cohering
• fusing
• coalescing
• uniting
• unifying
• associating
• conjugating
• conjoining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaking down
• decaying
• decomposing
• disintegrating

shaping up

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of shape up

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• straightening (up or out)
• improving
• cleaning up one's act
• amending
• behaving
• reforming
• regenerating
• mending
• bettering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regressing
• backsliding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shaping (up)

Verb

So, how is Alexander-Arnold’s second season in the Spanish capital shaping up? — Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

With classes starting Thursday, the District U-46 School Board was given an optimistic report Monday on ongoing construction and how things are shaping up for the new school year. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Lanterns was already shaping up to be good when initial critical impressions and then full-length reviews came in. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

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

The offer is the latest negotiation in what is shaping up to be a public letter-writing campaign to determine future of the Atlanta City Detention Center. — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026