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)
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
What was shaping up as a challenge to an incumbent is now an open-seat contest, likely drawing additional candidates and increasing competition, particularly in the Democratic primary.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Coincidentally landing on National Cheddar Fries Day and National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day, the date is shaping up to be a great day for snack-lovers and munchies-havers alike.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
The way May 1 is shaping up right now, schools will be open, but at many of them little of educational worth will be happening.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Taken together, this race is shaping up to be Steyer’s to lose.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
But unlike Bondi or Noem, Kennedy has the ear of a voting bloc, one that is shaping up to be something of a wild card for the GOP ahead of the midterms.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2026
Hot honey blonde is shaping up to be the color of the season, with tons of celebrities already ditching their icy tones for a warmer shade.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 16 Apr. 2026
Two more rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms could hit Kansas City this week, with the first possible Wednesday and a bigger threat shaping up Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
Teams around the league widely view next year’s class as shaping up to be substantially better than this year’s.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
What was shaping up as a challenge to an incumbent is now an open-seat contest, likely drawing additional candidates and increasing competition, particularly in the Democratic primary.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Coincidentally landing on National Cheddar Fries Day and National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day, the date is shaping up to be a great day for snack-lovers and munchies-havers alike.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
The way May 1 is shaping up right now, schools will be open, but at many of them little of educational worth will be happening.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Taken together, this race is shaping up to be Steyer’s to lose.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
But unlike Bondi or Noem, Kennedy has the ear of a voting bloc, one that is shaping up to be something of a wild card for the GOP ahead of the midterms.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2026
Hot honey blonde is shaping up to be the color of the season, with tons of celebrities already ditching their icy tones for a warmer shade.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 16 Apr. 2026
Two more rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms could hit Kansas City this week, with the first possible Wednesday and a bigger threat shaping up Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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