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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Saturday is shaping up to be an especially pleasant day for outdoor activities. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 There are five riding modes, shaping up as three preset modes and two that can be customized to your preferences. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026 In what is shaping up to be the season’s most competitive acting race, three names appear to have separated themselves. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Heels, flats, and sneakers in this shade are shaping up to be an irresistible way to brighten up a dark winter outfit. — Nuria Luis, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2026 All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) first Clockwork Carnage is shaping up to be a hard-hitting affair. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 The movie is now shaping up to be one of the biggest studio bombs ever considering its budget was north of $160 million. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 The British pop singer had a major breakthrough last year after winning Best New Artist, and is already shaping up to be a Grammy favorite. — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026 The 2026 campaign is shaping up as a referendum on the power of money in American politics. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping (up)

Verb

Eons ago a star up to 30 times the mass of our sun collapsed and perished, forming a black hole.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Listening to music is a powerful tool for learning, growing, and forming connections—and kids’ movies and shows throughout the years have actually produced some of the best songs in pop culture history.

— Stephanie Ganz Published, Parents, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of forming

Verb

Boston Dynamics’ approach focuses on improving the connection between engineering and manufacturing, with faster component production and assembly intended to support more rapid development.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Seaport upgrades Ralliant to buy from neutral Seaport said the outlook is improving.

— Michael Bloom, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of improving

Verb

Walls, in contrast, supports amending the policy so those charged with certain offenses no longer qualify for pretrial release.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
At the ballot box, voters have overwhelmingly rejected major pieces of the party’s agenda, including an effort to weaken their power to bypass the legislature by amending the constitution or putting laws passed by lawmakers to a statewide vote.

— Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of amending

Verb

For instance, Siri’s lack of thinking power compared with other ultra-smart AI agents means that there’s far less of a chance of going rogue, or behaving in eerie ways.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Rather than behaving independently, their interactions begin to constrain how the material changes.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of behaving

Verb

Over time, the objectives of this opposition have shifted from reforming the regime to challenging its authority.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
The population consisted of workers transforming the strip of land to be habitable, even desirable, reforming the cluster into a model of hospitality.

— Erin Parish, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of reforming

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shaping

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 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shaping (up)

verb (1)

verb (2)

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