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)
Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
Saturday is shaping up to be a repeat.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Temperatures in the low to mid-90s are likely Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with Saturday shaping up to be the hottest day of the week.
—Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
The bad news for the Bears is that Tarleton State is bringing what's shaping up to be the best team in school history to Estes Stadium this Saturday.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2025
The company’s debut is shaping up as a referendum not on point-of-sale financing, but on whether AI can rewrite the economics of consumer finance.
—Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This is shaping up to be a slog.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
The employment survey was shaping up as one of the most closely watched in years.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Between that and Brother Dude’s quest, this is shaping up to be one hell of a finale.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Texas Senate race is shaping up to be a crowded one with competitive primaries on both the Republican and Democratic sides.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
Saturday is shaping up to be a repeat.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Temperatures in the low to mid-90s are likely Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with Saturday shaping up to be the hottest day of the week.
—Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
The bad news for the Bears is that Tarleton State is bringing what's shaping up to be the best team in school history to Estes Stadium this Saturday.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2025
The company’s debut is shaping up as a referendum not on point-of-sale financing, but on whether AI can rewrite the economics of consumer finance.
—Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This is shaping up to be a slog.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
The employment survey was shaping up as one of the most closely watched in years.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Between that and Brother Dude’s quest, this is shaping up to be one hell of a finale.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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