take shape

phrase

: to assume a definite or distinctive form : to develop and become apparent or established
The plan is finally taking shape.
Edison's tireless work habits took shape during his childhood …—Paul Gray
The proto-planetary fragments crashed together, coalesced by gravity, and crashed again into other fragments, until they gradually took shape as the planets we know today.—M. Mitchell Waldrop
… the first half of the century, before the modern medical system took shape.—Geoffrey Cowley

Examples of take shape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As the community continues to take shape, buyers can begin exploring available home opportunities now and look forward to experiencing the new models this fall. — Jenuane Communities, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026 That puts cybersecurity closer to the reactor’s engineering core, where decisions about digital controls, physical systems, and operational procedures begin to take shape. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 This even includes the beloved sneakers of Kobe Bryant, a once peer of Jordan’s whose shoe line had yet to begin taking shape when their on-court careers briefly overlapped. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 The market that followed was still taking shape, with many operators treating video gaming as one part of a broader business. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for take shape

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take shape was in 1560

Rhymes for take shape

See All Rhymes for take shape

Browse Nearby Words

take root
take shape
take ship
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Take shape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20shape. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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