SHAPING UP Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

shaping (up) 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of shape (up)

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

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shaping up

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of shape up

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

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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)

Verb

Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a major season for statement footwear, but one of the most polished trends, the high-vamp pump, is surprisingly understated. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026 May was a dry month, but every other month since February has been wetter than normal, and August is shaping up to be the same. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Here's how the primaries in those key districts — as well as an open seat in the 7th Congressional District, where the son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is vying to win — are shaping up. — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Halloween 2026 is already shaping up to be a big year for coordinated costumes, with families getting creative about dressing up together. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 The offer is the latest negotiation in what is shaping up to be a public letter-writing campaign to determine future of the Atlanta City Detention Center. — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Dark-brown pants in wide or flared silhouettes are shaping up to be the most popular among fashion pros. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2026 The 2028 presidential primary is already shaping up as yet another soul-searching moment for Democrats, pitting the disparate ideological camps and competing personalities against each other. — Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 The debate between Medicare for All and Medicare by Choice advocates is shaping up to be an interesting one in the coming years. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping (up)

Verb

Interestingly, though, pentagonal arrangements of atoms can fill space in almost-but-never-quite-repeating patterns with fivefold symmetry, forming materials called quasicrystals.

— Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
The tricky case occurs when the band touches only three points, forming a triangle with two interior points.

— Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of forming

Verb

However, student well-being initially declined before improving in later years, while average test scores, attendance, classroom attention and reported online bullying changed little.

— Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Despite rising costs, borrowers are showing more discipline by paying down debt and improving credit scores.

— Sharon Wu, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of improving

Verb

Now the village is discussing amending the village’s code to insert guidelines on commercial filming/photography.

— Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Supervisors Nate Miley and Haubert said the poll was a good start toward understanding the community’s interest in amending Measure D, but the county needed to build greater consensus before attempting to ease its land-use restrictions.

— Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of amending

Verb

The agency’s leaders are also reforming practices in its two shelters, following an outside review released last month.

— Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
Kim Farrington, an accountant who has touted her work reforming federal spending to save taxpayer dollars, highlights tackling the national debt and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse as her top priority.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of reforming

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shaping (up)

shaping up

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“Shaping (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping%20%28up%29. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of shaping (up)

verb (1)

verb (2)

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