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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Over three decades ago, the building was in rough shape and the area nearby wasn’t any better. — Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2026 Alexandre Desplat is a shape-shifting genius, and that movie, in addition to being peculiar and amazing, has one of the most haunting scores ever. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
The exhibition is being shaped by Thai curator and art historian Apinan Poshyananda, who has served as artistic director since the Biennale’s 2018 founding. — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026 One year after its opening, The Louis, its Shanghai megastore shaped like a cruise ship, continues to draw crowds. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 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
  • My beloved friend, father figure, musical hero and mentor, Mike Love, is facing serious health challenges.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The Fitbit Air is a budget-friendly, screen-free band focused primarily on health tracking, comfort, and long battery life.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of health
Noun
  • The Cooke and Wheatstone telegraph may be considered the earliest commercial form of long-distance electronic communication.
    — Mike McRae October 15, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
  • So far, anti-AI legislation has taken the form of blocking subsidies for AI data centers.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of form
Noun
  • The popular term generally describes a softer physique with extra weight around the midsection.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The team revised Rotta’s face and coloring to bring him closer to Jabba while refining his muscular physique.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of physique
Verb
  • The movie, directed by Siân Heder and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, adapts Gabrielle Zevin’s best-selling novel about game developers.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The ability to adapt to these pressures will play out differently across fashion’s market segments, Skrami said.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of adapt
Verb
  • When the Fondation Cartier exhibition ends, the factory will be returned to Ghana for permanent installation in Kumasi, where Mahama plans to build a new institution.
    — Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Cleveland had planned a bullpen game for Friday, with Shawn Armstrong being the opener.
    — Joe Reedy, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of plan
Noun
  • The Singapore Shipping Association also played down the prospect of a broad withdrawal of commercial shipping from the region, suggesting operators would instead adapt to changing trade conditions.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The team also evaluated methods for attaching sensors to storage casks, with the aim of developing installations capable of remaining in place for years under high-temperature and high-radiation conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of condition
Noun
  • Its retreat has altered the glacier’s geometry and relationship with the seafloor, meaning that simply reducing ocean melting may not restore its earlier state on century-long timescales.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Steel Nomad's regular and Light subtests focus on APIs more commonly used in game development, such as Metal and DirectX 12, to assess gaming performance for geometry and particle effects.
    — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of geometry
Noun
  • Chen advised supervisors facing decision fatigue to review shots within their sequences rather than obsess over individual frames.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The painstakingly slow pace is rewarded, as a whimsical work is gradually brought to life through a series of frames.
    — Bridget Arsenault, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 2026.

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