: 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
shaped up; shaping up; shapes up
: to improve to a good or acceptable condition or standard of behavior
shaping up at the gym
: 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
A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 7 Dec. 2023
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 May 2024
Demi Moore is shaping up to be the style star of Cannes Film Festival.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 20 May 2024
Most of the grid’s central infrastructure—the actual wires and electrical transformers that move electricity from point A to point B—is half a century old, and wholly unequipped to handle what’s shaping up to be a generational surge in power demand.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 19 May 2024
Last month’s announcement from Cal State Fullerton was the latest step in what is shaping up to be nothing less than a second age of discovery.
—Andre Mouchard, Orange County Register, 19 May 2024
The college basketball transfer portal opens Sunday and closes May 1, which shapes up to be a busy 45-day period for MU’s staff.
—Calum McAndrew, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2024
Denver’s got what is shaping up to be an interesting competition at receiver.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
The state's new legislative district maps are expected to create more competitive races for seats in Madison, and there is an interesting race shaping up in Racine County in a district held by a leading Democrat.
—Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 9 May 2024
This is shaping up to be a hellacious summer, even by Lone Star standards.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 9 May 2024
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
Reconciling these interests is shaping up to be a long process.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 May 2024
Demi Moore is shaping up to be the style star of Cannes Film Festival.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 20 May 2024
Most of the grid’s central infrastructure—the actual wires and electrical transformers that move electricity from point A to point B—is half a century old, and wholly unequipped to handle what’s shaping up to be a generational surge in power demand.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 19 May 2024
Last month’s announcement from Cal State Fullerton was the latest step in what is shaping up to be nothing less than a second age of discovery.
—Andre Mouchard, Orange County Register, 19 May 2024
The college basketball transfer portal opens Sunday and closes May 1, which shapes up to be a busy 45-day period for MU’s staff.
—Calum McAndrew, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2024
Denver’s got what is shaping up to be an interesting competition at receiver.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
The state's new legislative district maps are expected to create more competitive races for seats in Madison, and there is an interesting race shaping up in Racine County in a district held by a leading Democrat.
—Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 9 May 2024
This is shaping up to be a hellacious summer, even by Lone Star standards.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 9 May 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.
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 28 May. 2024.
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