Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
shape up. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
shape up, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
shape up in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
shape up you have here. The definition of the word
shape up will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
shape up, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Verb
shape up (third-person singular simple present shapes up, present participle shaping up, simple past and past participle shaped up)
- (intransitive, idiomatic) To improve; to correct one's bad habits or behavior.
He'd better shape up soon, or he'll fail the class.
- (intransitive, idiomatic) To take shape; to transform into or become.
The fog has vanished and it's shaping up to be a beautiful day.
1983, 02:04:00 from the start, in The Right Stuff:Pretty good. A full refrigerator! I can see this afternoon is shaping up just great.
2017 July 30, Ali Barthwell, “Ice and fire finally meet in a front-loaded episode of Game Of Thrones (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:Even though this episode felt packed to the brim and sometimes unwieldly, the strongest moments were spent with Cersei, Sansa, and Daenerys: three daughters who were never supposed to rule, wading through their pain and suffering to shape The Seven Kingdoms. A lot has been said and written about the sons in this story who were never meant to rule (Tyrion, Jon, even Sam) but this season is shaping up to be an examination of these women.
- (intransitive, slang) To gesture or posture threateningly; to approach as if to fight; to pose to intimidate.
- Synonym: bridge up
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
to improve; correct one's bad habits
See also
Anagrams