shape-up
1 of 2noun
ˈshāp-ˌəp 
: 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 2verb
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
Synonyms
Verb
- amend
- mend
- reform
- straighten (up or out)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 25 July 2022 This report comes after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter to air carriers last week, calling on them to shape up ahead of the Labor Day travel weekend. Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2022 How spending on financial services will shape up this year is difficult to predict, Greene says, noting that there are a lot of changing dynamics that could affect American households. Megan Leonhardt, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2022 The Chicago Tribune talked with Kay about the study to see how this year’s wedding plans will shape up. Darcel Rockett, chicagotribune.com, 15 Feb. 2022 Mark Zuckerberg had already warned his employees to shape up or ship out. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 19 July 2022 And that doesn’t shape up as especially appetizing, either. Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 June 2022 Forecasters have other clues to how the hurricane season might shape up. Nick Shay, The Conversation, 18 May 2022 Now, billionaire CEOs of some of tech's biggest companies are starting to adopt a sterner approach, implying that employees must either shape up or ship out — possibly with the intention of encouraging layoffs by attrition. Rishi Iyengar, CNN, 7 July 2022 See More
Verb
The question that loomed throughout spring, though, was how the battle would shape up once Calzada was medically cleared. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 25 July 2022 This report comes after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter to air carriers last week, calling on them to shape up ahead of the Labor Day travel weekend. Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2022 How spending on financial services will shape up this year is difficult to predict, Greene says, noting that there are a lot of changing dynamics that could affect American households. Megan Leonhardt, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2022 The Chicago Tribune talked with Kay about the study to see how this year’s wedding plans will shape up. Darcel Rockett, chicagotribune.com, 15 Feb. 2022 Mark Zuckerberg had already warned his employees to shape up or ship out. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 19 July 2022 And that doesn’t shape up as especially appetizing, either. Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 June 2022 Forecasters have other clues to how the hurricane season might shape up. Nick Shay, The Conversation, 18 May 2022 Now, billionaire CEOs of some of tech's biggest companies are starting to adopt a sterner approach, implying that employees must either shape up or ship out — possibly with the intention of encouraging layoffs by attrition. Rishi Iyengar, CNN, 7 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1940, in the meaning defined above
Verb
circa 1920, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense