SHAPING UP Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shaping (up)

Verb

There are also chocolate brown ballet flats—a rich neutral that’s shaping up to be everywhere this season—plus deals from Sorel, Adidas, and Allswifit, the affordable brand shoppers often compare to Hoka. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2026 New Hampshire’s premier Senate race is on after party leaders secured their top choices in what’s shaping up to be one of the tightest contests in the entire country come November. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Thursday is shaping up to be the hottest day of the week and also the one with the greatest chance of rain. — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2026 Forget boot prints on the moon or human missions to Mars—the real 21st-century space race is shaping up to be more about who can launch the most rockets and satellites. — Elizabeth Howell, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2026 Just how Wrexham and Swansea will fare in what is shaping up as among the most competitive of Championship seasons remains to be seen. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The research arrives as experts and officials warn that the current El Niño, which began forming in June, is shaping up to be the strongest ever experienced by a considerable margin. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 With current markdowns being as steep as 60 percent off, the holiday weekend is shaping up to be a particularly good time for scoring a new-season bag without putting your wallet in the crosshairs. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026 However, the remedies imposed upon Google for that loss are shaping up to be minimal. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping (up)

Verb

Despite the secrecy, rumors of the project began to percolate at the festival over the weekend, and the line to see the film in the 650-seat Werner Herzog Theater started forming hours before showtime.

— Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026
In March 2024, hairline cracks began forming along the entire length of a support beam on the top floor.

— Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of forming

Verb

Many of the biggest AI safety fears revolve around advanced models getting increasingly capable at improving their own performance, a technique known as recursive self-improvement, or RSI.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
The numbers don’t favor an improving team in that regard — but remember, the Cowboys should have top quarterback play, top receivers, good-to-great offensive line play and a good-to-great run game.

— Zak Keefer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of improving

Verb

Assembly Bill 113 was the last budget trailer bill to pass through the Legislature during this session, amending the 2026-27 budget to allocate additional funds to issue areas such as healthcare, housing and disaster relief, among others.

— Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The complex legislation — added by gutting and amending a bill known as Senate Bill 492 — was introduced less than three days before the legislative session was to end Monday.

— Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of amending

Verb

All the austerity options—cutting spending, reforming entitlements, or raising taxes are measures politicians are reluctant to embrace before an election.

— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
At those meetings, emergency managers from powerful states led by Republican governors, including Texas and Florida, discussed the importance of reforming FEMA, but did not publicly advocate for eliminating it.

— Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of reforming

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shaping

shaping (up)

shaping up

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“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shaping (up)

verb (1)

verb (2)

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