as in to form
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 to improve
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 shape (up)
Amy Sterling, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
The bottom line: 2025 is shaping up to be a delicious year for San Antonio.
—Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
Fellow readers, 2025 is shaping up as a big year for books by Milwaukee and Wisconsin writers and about Wisconsin subjects.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
Though 2024 is shaping up to be a strong year for the S & P 500, some major underperformers restricted upside.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shape (up) 
Verb
One thing’s for sure: 2025 is shaping up to be spectacular.
—Amy Sterling, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
The bottom line: 2025 is shaping up to be a delicious year for San Antonio.
—Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
Fellow readers, 2025 is shaping up as a big year for books by Milwaukee and Wisconsin writers and about Wisconsin subjects.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
Though 2024 is shaping up to be a strong year for the S & P 500, some major underperformers restricted upside.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shape (up)
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Cite this Entry
“Shape (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape%20%28up%29. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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