shapely

adjective

shape·​ly ˈshā-plē How to pronounce shapely (audio)
shapelier; shapeliest
1
: having a regular or pleasing shape
2
: orderly and consistent in arrangement or plan
shapely essays
shapeliness noun

Examples of shapely in a Sentence

She has a shapely figure. a shapely blonde who had a lead role in numerous Hollywood movies
Recent Examples on the Web The tattoo-chic designs are instantly recognizable, and the models that Christian Audigier’s team lined up were more shapely than skeletal women at some shows, lending the line some va-va-voom! Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 And for the 2022 Red Sea International Film Festival, actor Marina Ruy Barbosa also wore an exuberant but shapely red gown. Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2023 At our test track, the car leapt to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds; the S7—the S6's shapelier counterpart—managed to blast to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 31 May 2023 That practicality translates into this modern design, with every detail, from the shapely shoulders to the utilitarian pockets. Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 30 Apr. 2022 But their shapely presence along with the crisp palette that cools hot summer days makes the time spent indoors vibrant and full of life too. Krissa Rossbund, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2021 This refers to the eggs’ appearance—the higher the grade (AA is the highest), the more shapely and spot-free the egg, with firm whites, pert yolks, and clean shells. Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 3 May 2021 Sorrell and the orchestra turned in a shapely performance that was anything but routine, full of drama and high collective spirit. Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 22 Apr. 2021 The shapely sedan is inspired by the company's new GV80 SUV, which also looks the part of a high-class luxury vehicle without the high-end price tag. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 19 Feb. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shapely.' 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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shapely was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near shapely

Cite this Entry

“Shapely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shapely. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shapely

adjective
shape·​ly ˈshā-plē How to pronounce shapely (audio)
shapelier; shapeliest
: having a regular or pleasing shape
a shapely figure
shapeliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shapely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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