shape 1 of 2

noun

Definition of shapenext
1
as in health
a state of being or fitness she was in good shape after having worked outdoors all summer long

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in form
the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance that part of the state is known as the panhandle because of its shape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in physique
the type of body that a person has some specialty clothing stores sell clothing that suits people that have a particular shape

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shape

2 of 2

verb

ˈshāp How to pronounce shape (audio)
1
as in to adapt
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation a dress shaped to the customer's particular figure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plan
to work out the details of (something) in advance over the winter the committee shaped the company's new marketing strategy

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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 shape
Noun
Lift your hips toward the ceiling, forming an upside down V shape with your body. — Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 29 July 2026 That is the shape of every defense that still works in a world without tells. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Verb
Having sought to upend the global maritime order — the underpinning of the global goods trade, energy flows, food supplies, and internet communications — China now seeks the trust of smaller countries to shape the digital one. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Mel’s storyline was shaped by a writers’ room that included women familiar with menopause. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shape
  1. health
  2. form
  3. physique
  4. adapt
  5. plan
  6. condition
  7. geometry
  8. frame
Noun
  • The World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic more than six years ago, and the public health emergency ended in the US more than three years ago.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Experts agree that even lower temperatures can pose health threats to vulnerable populations, especially when combined with high humidity.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of health
Noun
  • There’s no spa or fitness center—wellness here comes in the form of fresh ocean air, bike rides, and harbor walks.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026
  • In its simplest form, scientists can put a chunk of soil in a mason jar, measure how much gas is released over time, then extrapolate a total figure.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of form
Noun
  • Sessa is an attractive young man with Tony's impossibly lean physique, who looks good in every single piece of 1975-era costuming.
    — Laurie Woolever, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Kratos is known for his incredibly muscular physique in the games, and Bautista has been in remarkable shape throughout his career.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of physique
Verb
  • In its goal of adapting local dishes to the essence of its menu, the team has gone all the way.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Since then, the Scottish Play—as it is often called in the theater world, to ward off bad luck—has been performed and adapted countless times, for stage and screen.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of adapt
Verb
  • The extended family — Spinelle’s mother, brother, aunt, sister and nieces — had planned to get citizenship and move to Italy, where his great-grandparents were from.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The unexpected weekend getaway While planning ahead is crucial during the busy summer months, some of the best memories come from those spur-of-the-moment trips.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of plan
Noun
  • The girl had been diagnosed with a rare gene defect that produces a neurodevelopmental condition known as Snijders Blok-Campeau syndrome, Science reported.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • The medical professional also checked the boxes saying Grayson would be incapacitated within six months and his condition was unlikely to improve.
    — Jerry Nowicki, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of condition
Noun
  • That geometry offers the rare possibility of watching an eclipsed sun descend toward the horizon.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Even after the team deliberately distorted the geometry, the one-way transport remained remarkably stable.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of geometry
Noun
  • Cox then walked into frame wearing a light pink bathrobe before draping her dark hair over Aniston’s head.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • His speed has been evident on the practice field, and his 6-foot-4, 198-pound frame has furnished a catching radius that all Carolina quarterbacks in camp have benefited from — from Bryce Young, to Kenny Pickett, to Haynes King.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026
Definition of frame

Phrases Containing shape

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shapable
shape
shaped
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Cite this Entry

“Shape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shape

Nglish: Translation of shape for Spanish Speakers

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