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
-
Acra described it as a fresh take on her beloved caftans, pointing out the looped draping technique that forms a billowy cape at the back.—
Ari Stark,
Footwear News,
15 June 2026
-
Venus, planet of money, moves through your 2nd House of Resources and forms a sextile to unconventional Uranus in your 12th House of Solitude, so insights can guide wise spending.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
But as the technology improves, the data could become more sensitive.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
-
Quiet propulsion advantage A key feature of the aircraft is Whisper Aero’s JetFoil technology, which the company says improves efficiency while reducing acoustic signatures.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The measure amends the city's general plan and land use framework to add a citywide ban on data centers, according to city officials.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
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
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
-
Her welcoming manner draws out from the audience the different ways sand behaves both like a solid and like a liquid.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Not just how much leverage a company carries, but how that leverage behaves under stress.—
Richard Polgar,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shapes (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shapes%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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