as in forms
to take on a definite form
this group of summer interns is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever hired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in improves
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shapes (up)
Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 May 2026
Let’s take a look at how this one shapes up.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Get your popcorn, kick up your feet and get ready for what shapes up to be an epic showdown in the Final Four nightcap on Saturday night.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The 75th Florida Derby — a top race that has produced 26 Kentucky Derby winners — shapes up as this year’s biggest prep heading into the May 2 Run for the Roses.
—Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Sunday shapes up to be more than a two-man race.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
What shapes up as an intriguing seventh year under Coach Jordyn Wieber for the University of Arkansas gymnastics team gets rolling Saturday with the season opener at Minnesota.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026
The brains of the operation shapes up as a Dimensity 7050 5G processor supported by 12 GB of system RAM (plus a further 24 GB of virtual memory if needed) and 256 GB of storage with microSD expansion to 2 TB.
—New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026
Talk a little bit about how this shapes up in terms of which party ultimately could have the advantage heading into the midterms.
—NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
As the two bond in short order, our previously flailing hero shapes up very quickly indeed, soon shedding his substance abuse problems and entering a healthy relationship with dreamy social worker Oscar (Diego Calva).
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 May 2026
Let’s take a look at how this one shapes up.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Get your popcorn, kick up your feet and get ready for what shapes up to be an epic showdown in the Final Four nightcap on Saturday night.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The 75th Florida Derby — a top race that has produced 26 Kentucky Derby winners — shapes up as this year’s biggest prep heading into the May 2 Run for the Roses.
—Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Sunday shapes up to be more than a two-man race.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
What shapes up as an intriguing seventh year under Coach Jordyn Wieber for the University of Arkansas gymnastics team gets rolling Saturday with the season opener at Minnesota.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026
The brains of the operation shapes up as a Dimensity 7050 5G processor supported by 12 GB of system RAM (plus a further 24 GB of virtual memory if needed) and 256 GB of storage with microSD expansion to 2 TB.
—New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026
Talk a little bit about how this shapes up in terms of which party ultimately could have the advantage heading into the midterms.
—NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shapes (up)
Verb
-
Ephemera forms the bridge where reader and book meet and begin to collaborate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
The move forms part of a broader pressure campaign that has included efforts to implement an oil blockade on the island since January, shortly after its ally and a key provider of oil, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was seized in an audacious military operation.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
While no specific therapy is approved for ANDV, early recognition dramatically improves the ability to deliver aggressive supportive care, monitor oxygenation, isolate potentially infectious patients, and initiate contact tracing before broader transmission occurs.—
Steve Brozak,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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The slate improves from there, but Chicago TEs have only three favorable matchups all season.—
KC Joyner,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The legislation amends the Brown Act to diversify and increase public engagement in meetings of local legislative bodies.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
The measure also amends the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) to make the IG's office exempt for nearly all categories.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
There’s that churro bread pudding, the one with a junkyard origin story that breaks down the churros and then reforms them into a dense and perfect block as powerful as an Avengers movie prop.—
Mike Sutter,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Kentucky's General Assembly has passed House Bill 2, which reforms the state's Medicaid program.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The founder’s role is evolving from chief decision maker to chief architect, someone who designs the systems, encodes the values, and governs the trajectories that determine how an organization behaves at scale.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
That will affect how El Niño behaves.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shapes (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shapes%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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