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)
Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Here’s how things are shaping up.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
In what’s shaping up to be a disruptive year for sports media, the NBA on Tuesday got out ahead of the field with a 2026 Finals schedule designed to sidestep a potentially massive World Cup match.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Jan. 2026
An expansive winter storm is shaping up to impact millions from the central Plains to the East Coast on Friday through Sunday.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026
That age debate isn’t unique to Texas, with the 2026 midterm elections shaping up as a moment of churn.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
Now analysts warn rising opposition to the massive warehouses powering the artificial intelligence revolution is shaping up to be a major factor in the 2026 midterm elections.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Sunday is shaping up to be colder, with highs in the mid-30s and a chance of snow during the first half of the day before skies begin to clear Sunday night.
—Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 15 Jan. 2026
Regardless of the hiccup, Don’t Be Dumb is shaping up to be Rocky’s most creative musical endeavor yet.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
From uncertainty around Federal Reserve leadership to rising geopolitical tensions and the disruptive force of AI, 2026 is already shaping up to be a defining year for the hedge fund landscape.
—Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Here’s how things are shaping up.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
In what’s shaping up to be a disruptive year for sports media, the NBA on Tuesday got out ahead of the field with a 2026 Finals schedule designed to sidestep a potentially massive World Cup match.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Jan. 2026
An expansive winter storm is shaping up to impact millions from the central Plains to the East Coast on Friday through Sunday.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026
That age debate isn’t unique to Texas, with the 2026 midterm elections shaping up as a moment of churn.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
Now analysts warn rising opposition to the massive warehouses powering the artificial intelligence revolution is shaping up to be a major factor in the 2026 midterm elections.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Sunday is shaping up to be colder, with highs in the mid-30s and a chance of snow during the first half of the day before skies begin to clear Sunday night.
—Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 15 Jan. 2026
Regardless of the hiccup, Don’t Be Dumb is shaping up to be Rocky’s most creative musical endeavor yet.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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