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)
Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
In a bonus Monday column , Jim talks about how the Club will get through what is shaping up to be a rough patch for Nvidia .
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
After all, 2026 is shaping up to be a chaotic year, with an uncertain economy, political pandemonium roiling every market, and a falling dollar.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026
All of that to say, the environment in Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday night, with Creighton in town, is shaping up to be one of the best this season, potentially up there with the Arizona game back in November.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Weather warm up in Maryland Monday's forecast is shaping up to be cloudy and chilly.
—Steven Sosna, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
The new suit’s unique joints are shaping up to be a major advancement over previous space suits, but the AxEMU’s relatively high weight is still a cause for concern.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
The North Carolina race is already shaping up as one of the most expensive Senate contests in the country.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
As the 2026 Milan Winter Olympic Games descend on Europe’s snowy playground from February 6 to 22, the competition off the ice and slopes is certainly shaping up to be a style spectacle in its own right.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
The 2026 Bourbon and Beyond Music Festival officially dropped its lineup and its a spectacular lineup for the four‑day festival at the Kentucky Exposition Center, which is shaping up to be one unforgettable weekend.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
In a bonus Monday column , Jim talks about how the Club will get through what is shaping up to be a rough patch for Nvidia .
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
After all, 2026 is shaping up to be a chaotic year, with an uncertain economy, political pandemonium roiling every market, and a falling dollar.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026
All of that to say, the environment in Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday night, with Creighton in town, is shaping up to be one of the best this season, potentially up there with the Arizona game back in November.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Weather warm up in Maryland Monday's forecast is shaping up to be cloudy and chilly.
—Steven Sosna, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
The new suit’s unique joints are shaping up to be a major advancement over previous space suits, but the AxEMU’s relatively high weight is still a cause for concern.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
The North Carolina race is already shaping up as one of the most expensive Senate contests in the country.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
As the 2026 Milan Winter Olympic Games descend on Europe’s snowy playground from February 6 to 22, the competition off the ice and slopes is certainly shaping up to be a style spectacle in its own right.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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