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
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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)
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Critics say event ‘hijacked’ by Christian nationalism Critics say Rededicate 250 is shaping up to promote Christian nationalism — whose adherents typically believe that the United States was founded as and should be a Christian nation.
—Peter Smith, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
According to a tracker of anti-LGBTQ+ bills maintained by the American Civil Liberties Union, 2026 is shaping up to be the most aggressive year yet for states.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 14 May 2026
The rising attention on Pratt shakes up a race that, until recently, was shaping up to pit Bass against a rival to her left rather than her right.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 13 May 2026
With the 84th Golden Globes shaping up for next January, the awards show is confronting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) with new eligibility rules.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 May 2026
The June top-two primary election is shaping up to be more interesting than usual, as Californians wrestle with an open gubernatorial race and a variety of post-gerrymandering congressional races that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Ohio's 2024 Senate race was the most expensive of the cycle, and this year's Senate contest is already shaping up to be costly.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Collaborations aside, May is already shaping up to be a huge month for New Balance releases.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
Verb
In that way, the race seems to be shaping up as less a competition than a self-fulfilling prophecy.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Critics say event ‘hijacked’ by Christian nationalism Critics say Rededicate 250 is shaping up to promote Christian nationalism — whose adherents typically believe that the United States was founded as and should be a Christian nation.
—Peter Smith, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
According to a tracker of anti-LGBTQ+ bills maintained by the American Civil Liberties Union, 2026 is shaping up to be the most aggressive year yet for states.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 14 May 2026
The rising attention on Pratt shakes up a race that, until recently, was shaping up to pit Bass against a rival to her left rather than her right.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 13 May 2026
With the 84th Golden Globes shaping up for next January, the awards show is confronting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) with new eligibility rules.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 May 2026
The June top-two primary election is shaping up to be more interesting than usual, as Californians wrestle with an open gubernatorial race and a variety of post-gerrymandering congressional races that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Ohio's 2024 Senate race was the most expensive of the cycle, and this year's Senate contest is already shaping up to be costly.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Collaborations aside, May is already shaping up to be a huge month for New Balance releases.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping (up)
Verb
-
The cells grow around and through the mesh, forming a stable connection between biological tissue and electronic components.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
-
Nugent explained that the mergers may prefer more star-forming and less massive galaxies as host environments, unlike core collapse supernovas which tend to occur in more stellar-dense massive galaxies.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The new commissioner faces the daunting task of improving the existing jail while planning for a world without it.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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It was built for static products like imaging algorithms, not for adaptive systems that keep improving.—
Alon Bergman,
STAT,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Rebecca Green, a law professor and director of the Election Law Program at William & Mary Law School in Virginia, said the court there rejected the redistricting plan based on narrow grounds pertaining to Virginia law on amending the state Constitution, which doesn’t apply in California.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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That act, of amending Jefferson’s original draft, edit upon edit, has been the story not only of new nation-states declaring their independence but also of people within nation-states.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Little by little since the start of this outbreak, the organization has been studying how this strain of hantavirus is behaving.—
Melissa Bell,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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But actually-old women behaving as actually old?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Repealing or reforming the Jones Act would not solve every affordability challenge overnight.—
Katelyn Bledsoe,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
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Administration officials singling out wind was counterproductive to ongoing bipartisan Congressional talks on reforming the federal permitting system for all forms of energy, Grumet said.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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