shape-up

1 of 2

noun

: a system of hiring workers and especially longshoremen by the day or shift by having applicants gather for each day's selection
also : an instance of such hiring practice

shape up

2 of 2

verb

shaped up; shaping up; shapes up

intransitive verb

: to improve to a good or acceptable condition or standard of behavior
shaping up at the gym

transitive verb

: to bring to a good or acceptable condition or standard of behavior

Examples of shape-up in a Sentence

Verb told his son that if he didn't shape up, he'd be grounded for a month this group of summer interns is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever hired
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut Is there anything more powerful than a fresh shape-up? A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 7 Dec. 2023
Verb
Each is a credible candidate, in what’s shaping up to be a large and unusually varied field. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 In an otherwise ho-hum election nationwide, California’s Senate contest is shaping up as a big draw. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 While Trump does lead on delegate count and votes, having won every primary thus far, Haley is still securing a third of voters, which could be an eventual concern for Trump in what's shaping up to be a general election rematch with President Biden on Nov. 5. Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 The cancellation prematurely punctuates what was shaping up to be one of the best seasons in recent program history. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024 The news ends what was shaping up to be the biggest project in the company’s history. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 Why was Jackson so resistant to performing on what was clearly shaping up to be his big night? Paul Grein, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2024 Sunday’s trophy match shapes up as a developmental contest ahead of this summer’s Olympics in France. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 For the president’s election-year speech — his third, which comes in the final year of his first term — the moment will serve as a kickoff for his re-election effort, which is shaping up to be another match-up between him and his predecessor, former President Donald Trump. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shape-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1920, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of shape-up was circa 1920

Dictionary Entries Near shape-up

Cite this Entry

“Shape-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shape-up. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shape up

verb
(ˈ)shā-ˈpəp
: to improve to a good condition or standard
shape up and start studying
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