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

How is 2026 shaping up to be for film and television in Oklahoma? — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026

And after the nail-biting first finish, game two was shaping up to be just as close, with the pair going shot-for-shot until Chris Allen gave the Riot a 17-12 advantage — the largest of the matchup so far. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026

Olise kept his intentions hidden to the last, shaping up to cross the ball to the back post before sharply turning his hips and whipping his pass into the goalscorer’s path, breaking two defensive lines along the way. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Capris and cropped pants are shaping up to be one of summer 2026’s biggest trends, making this stretchy cotton pair an excellent score. — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Her appearance is the latest in a string of royal engagements in what is shaping up to be another busy summer for the royal family. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 2 July 2026

The 76ers are already shaping up to be one of the most compelling teams in the NBA and would be Must-See TV with the addition of LeBron James. — Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

The standoff has laid the groundwork for what is shaping up to be this year's most anticipated corporate event in German industry, when Volkswagen's management will seek to win the approval of the firm's supervisory board on July 9. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 2 July 2026

The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence has been shaping up as, well, frankly, somewhere between an embarrassment and a fiasco. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026