1
as in health
a state of being or fitness
she was in good shape after having worked outdoors all summer long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in form
the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance
that part of the state is known as the panhandle because of its shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to adapt
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation
a dress shaped to the customer's particular figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plan
to work out the details of (something) in advance
over the winter the committee shaped the company's new marketing strategy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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 shape
Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
Produced by Cate Le Bon and composed by the band inside studios owned by Jeff Tweedy and Gilla Band, Secret Love would be a return to form, but Dry Cleaning never fell out of shape in the first place.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Jan. 2026
Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Moore, who was honored with WWD's Fashion Icon award at the ceremony, posed with her long-time stylist and friend, Brad Goreski, who has played a major role in shaping her sartorial identity for the past two decades.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shape
Noun
Canned kidney beans provide structure, so when many veggie burgers fall apart, this one holds its shape until the last bite.
—Verb
Steph Chambers / Getty Images The latest seminal moment that could shape the future of college football ended with an Instagram post, a quarterback staying put and fans quickly turning their attention to another College Football Playoff instant classic.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for shape
Noun
-
The average cost of a home health aide is around $6,000 a month.—
-
The new doll is part of Mattel’s Fashionistas collection, which includes dolls with a diverse range of skin tones, hair textures, body types and health conditions, including type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome and blindness.—
Noun
-
The final slide of her carousel featured a video of her trying her hand at Muay Thai, a form of Thai boxing.—
-
Freezing fog makes driving, boating, flying, and other forms of transportation particularly hazardous.—
Noun
-
The 47-year-old showcased her physique on Instagram with a series of photos in a pastel triangle string bikini accented with beaded details.—
-
After mean people on the Internet criticized Pink's physique in a black party dress, the singer refused to be embarrassed.—
Verb
-
The series, which was adapted from Liz Moore's novel of the same name, centers on Seyfried's Mickey, a police officer who works in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Kensington at the height of the opioid crisis.—
-
These are the ones most likely to be adapted for crowd monitoring throughout cities.—
Verb
-
Did several individuals act spontaneously or was something planned?—
-
Walmart plans to add EV sites at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations by 2030.—
Noun
-
Weather, road conditions and local traffic patterns are also worth considering in this context.—
-
Kim said the rover’s onboard computer has flown on South Korea’s Nuri rocket, allowing the team to test critical control hardware under real space conditions.—
Noun
-
Fault geometry, stress from nearby fault systems and the movement of fluids can all interact in complex ways.—
-
Ahead of their January 2026 wedding, Folloder, who is a high school geometry teacher and football coach, enlisted his fiancée’s preschool class to help celebrate the special occasion.—
Noun
-
Beyond their similar ages, frames, and hairstyles, the actresses began working at a similar time.—
-
The multi-hyphenate is a sucker for chunky frames, and the Center Stage style from Peepers fits the bill.—
Cite this Entry
“Shape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share