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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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)
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
2 July 2026
Her appearance is the latest in a string of royal engagements in what is shaping up to be another busy summer for the royal family.
—
Jennifer Hassan,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
The 76ers are already shaping up to be one of the most compelling teams in the NBA and would be Must-See TV with the addition of LeBron James.
—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The standoff has laid the groundwork for what is shaping up to be this year's most anticipated corporate event in German industry, when Volkswagen's management will seek to win the approval of the firm's supervisory board on July 9.
—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence has been shaping up as, well, frankly, somewhere between an embarrassment and a fiasco.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
This is shaping up to be the biggest one of all, and it will be twinned with the Seventh International Naval Review, for which 37 warships will assemble along the Hudson for inspection.
—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
30 June 2026
The knee injury cut short what was shaping up to be another stellar season for the six-time All-Star.
—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 June 2026
This is shaping up to be the cultural event of the year.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Verb
Capris and cropped pants are shaping up to be one of summer 2026’s biggest trends, making this stretchy cotton pair an excellent score.
—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
2 July 2026
Her appearance is the latest in a string of royal engagements in what is shaping up to be another busy summer for the royal family.
—
Jennifer Hassan,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
The 76ers are already shaping up to be one of the most compelling teams in the NBA and would be Must-See TV with the addition of LeBron James.
—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The standoff has laid the groundwork for what is shaping up to be this year's most anticipated corporate event in German industry, when Volkswagen's management will seek to win the approval of the firm's supervisory board on July 9.
—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence has been shaping up as, well, frankly, somewhere between an embarrassment and a fiasco.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
This is shaping up to be the biggest one of all, and it will be twinned with the Seventh International Naval Review, for which 37 warships will assemble along the Hudson for inspection.
—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
30 June 2026
The knee injury cut short what was shaping up to be another stellar season for the six-time All-Star.
—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 June 2026
This is shaping up to be the cultural event of the year.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping (up)
Verb
-
Other opponents generally feel compelled to drop an extra player into the back line, forming a back five against Japan’s front five — as the Netherlands did, with Frenkie de Jong dropping in from midfield.
-
Even if polls point to a majority, a potential coalition spanning left, right, center and Arab parties would face real difficulty forming a government – and keeping it together.
Verb
-
Pogačar is only improving as a rider, a scary proposition for man with his extraordinary palmares.
-
Higgins also says that improving resilience will mean changing the city’s building code to allow innovative new technology.
Verb
-
Disparate impact also lives under the Fair Housing Act, a separate law the Bureau cannot rewrite by amending Regulation B.
-
Michelle Ford, a soil scientist and wildlife biologist who owns EcoMaps, said Silverman over the past two months had addressed her concerns about wetlands protection by amending plans.
Verb
-
Once markets stop pricing free cash flow and start pricing a president’s next move, the bubble stops behaving like a discrete event with a beginning and an end, and starts behaving like a permanent condition.
-
Without clear visibility into how AI systems are behaving, organizations risk creating environments where costs get out of control and accountability disappears.
Verb
-
In my view, that is especially unfortunate because at the state level, there is bipartisan appetite to address ongoing health insurance barriers, such as by reforming prior authorization.
-
As the years pass, the task of reforming Social Security becomes a greater and greater challenge, the Urban Institute said.
Cite this Entry
“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
