Shape — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈshāp/

Meaning & Definition of Shape

Shape (verb)

  1. form, create; especially, to give a particular form or shape to
  2. ordain, decree
  3. to adapt in shape so as to fit neatly and closely

Shape (noun)

  1. the visible makeup characteristic of a particular item or kind of item
  2. spatial form or contour
  3. a standard or universally recognized spatial form

Shape (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state of being or fitness

    "she was in good shape after having worked outdoors all summer long"

    similar: condition, estate, fettle, form, health, keeping, kilter, nick (British), order, repair, trim
    related: practice, pass, phase, stage, footing, picture, posture, scene, situation, status, rank, standing
    near: disorder, disrepair

  2. the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance

    "that part of the state is known as the panhandle because of its shape"

    similar: cast, configuration, conformation, fashion, figure, form, geometry
    related: contour, outline, profile, silhouette, frame, framework, shell, skeleton, arrangement, design, format, layout, makeup, organization, pattern, plan, setup
    near: composition, material, matter, raw material, stuff, substance

  3. the type of body that a person has

    "some specialty clothing stores sell clothing that suits people that have a particular shape"

    similar: build, constitution, figure, form, frame, habit, physique
    related: anatomy, structure

Shape (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation

    "a dress shaped to the customer's particular figure"

    similar: acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adapt, adjust, condition, conform, doctor, edit, fashion, fit, put, suit, tailor
    related: readapt, readjust, customize, gear, match, model, pattern, attune, correct, harmonize, square, tune, establish, root, settle, acquaint, familiarize, orient, orientate, equip, prepare, prime, rehearse, harden, inure, season, toughen, alter, convert, make over, modify, recast, reclaim, recycle, redesign, redevelop, redo, reengineer, refashion, refigure, refit, refocus, reinvent, rejigger, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, transform, accustom, habilitate, habituate, naturalize, ready, train, bend, fiddle (with), fine-tune, phase, register, regulate, rig
    near: misadjust

  2. to work out the details of (something) in advance

    "over the winter the committee shaped the company's new marketing strategy"

    similar: arrange, blueprint, budget, calculate, chart, choreograph, design, frame, lay out, map (out), organize, plan, prepare, project, scheme (out), strategize (about)
    related: conspire, contrive, devise, intrigue, machinate, plot, put up, concert, get up, draft, outline, sketch, aim, figure, have on, intend, mean, contemplate, meditate, premeditate

Related Entry: Shape (up) (verb)

Shape (up) is a different word from Shape. The synonyms below are for shape (up), not for shape.

  1. to take on a definite form

    "this group of summer interns is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever hired"

    similar: crystallize, form, jell, solidify
    related: associate, coalesce, cohere, fuse, combine, conjoin, conjugate, connect, couple, join, link (up), unify, unite
    near: break down, decay, decompose, disintegrate

Related Entry: Shape up (verb)

Shape up is a different word from Shape. The synonyms below are for shape up, not for shape.

  1. to change one's behavior or character for the better

    "told his son that if he didn't shape up, he'd be grounded for a month"

    similar: amend, mend, reform, straighten (up or out), clean up one's act
    related: behave, regenerate, better, improve
    near: backslide, regress

Related Entry: Bent out of shape (phrase)

Bent out of shape is a different word from Shape. The synonyms below are for bent out of shape, not for shape.

  1. feeling or showing anger

    "Try not to get so bent out of shape over such little things."

    similar: angered, angry, apoplectic, ballistic, cheesed off (chiefly British), choleric, enraged, foaming, fuming, furious, hopping, horn-mad, hot, incensed, indignant, inflamed, infuriate, infuriated, irate, ireful, livid, mad, outraged, rabid, rankled, riled, riley, roiled, shirty (chiefly British), sore, steamed up, steaming, teed off, ticked, wrathful, wroth, blue in the face, fit to be tied, going crook (Australian & New Zealand), hopping mad, hot under the collar, in a fume, in a huff, in a pet
    related: ranting, raving, stormy, boiling, bristling, bristly, burning, cross, huffy, passionate, seething, sizzling, smoldering, worked up, wrought (up), acrid, acrimonious, antagonistic, antipathetic, bitter, embittered, inimical, malevolent, piqued, rancorous, resentful, spiteful, vengeful, vindictive, virulent, vitriolic, antisocial, cold, cool, disagreeable, disapproving, distant, frigid, icy, ill-tempered, sorehead, sulky, unfriendly, unpleasant, aggravated, annoyed, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, churlish, crabby, cranky, dyspeptic, exasperated, fretful, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, ill-humored, inflammable, irascible, irritable, peevish, perturbed, petulant, put out, quick-tempered, snappish, testy, touchy, argumentative, belligerent, contentious, contrary, disputatious, ornery, pugnacious, quarrelsome, querulous
    opposite: angerless, delighted, pleased
    near: accepting, accommodating, obliging, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, amicable, cordial, friendly, content, happy, satisfied, empathetic, sympathetic, tolerant, understanding, calm, pacific, peaceable, placid, serene, tranquil, unembittered, affable, amiable, easygoing, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, kind, pleasant, sweet

Related Entry: In shape (phrase)

In shape is a different word from Shape. The synonyms below are for in shape, not for shape.

  1. enjoying health and vigor

    "The older he got the more he cared about staying in shape."

    similar: able-bodied, bouncing, fit, hale, healthy, hearty, robust, sound, well, well-conditioned, whole, wholesome, in fine fettle, in the pink
    related: hard, hardy, iron, lusty, rugged, stalwart, strong, sturdy, tough, ambulatory, nondisabled, uncrippled, active, agile, chipper, lively, sprightful, sprightly, spry, vigorous, vital, blooming, clean-cut, flourishing, flush, prospering, thriving, all right, good, right
    opposite: ailing, diseased, ill, sick, unfit, unhealthy, unsound, unwell
    near: decrepit, enfeebled, feeble, infirm, run-down, sickened, sickly, weak, weakened, weakly, worn-out, debilitated, differently abled, disabled, incapacitated, delicate, fragile, frail, emaciated, gaunt, haggard, malnourished, undernourished, afflicted, troubled, bad, poorly

Related Entry: Lick (verb)

Lick is a different word from Shape. The synonyms below are for lick, not for shape.

  1. to strike repeatedly

    "your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words"

    similar: bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop, whup, work over, beat up on
    related: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate

  2. to achieve a victory over

    "he's determined to do everything he can to lick the cancer"

    similar: beat, best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Related Entry: Take (verb)

Take is a different word from Shape. The synonyms below are for take, not for shape.

  1. to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms

    "take my hand, or we'll get separated in this crowd"

    similar: clasp, grasp, grip, hold, hang on to, lay hold of
    related: clench, cling (to), clutch, hold on (to), catch, nab, seize, snatch
    near: discharge, drop, free, liberate, release, deliver, entrust, give, hand, hand over, pass, relinquish, transfer, transmit, turn over, unhand

  2. to agree to receive whether willingly or reluctantly

    "will you take that call?"

    "took a cut in pay"

    similar: accept, have
    related: accede (to), assent (to), concede (to), confirm, consent (to), OK, ratify, sanction, warrant, acquiesce (to), bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to), abide, bear, brook, countenance, endure, shoulder, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, swallow, sweat out, tolerate, adopt, embrace, welcome
    opposite: decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, refuse, reject, spurn, turn down, veto
    near: dissent (to), object (to), oppose, protest, hold off, resist, withstand, combat, contest, fight

  3. to become affected with (a disease or disorder)

    "if you don't cover your head in this weather, you'll take cold and be stuck inside all weekend"

    similar: catch, come down (with), contract, get, go down (with) (chiefly British), sicken (with)
    related: break out (with), die (from), succumb (to), fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen
    near: come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back, rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)

  4. to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities

    "you can take the white side this time, since I got to be white for our last chess game"

    similar: cherry-pick, choose, cull, elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, prefer, select, single (out), tag
    related: preselect, appoint, designate, fix, mark, nominate, set, tab, tap, accept, adopt, embrace, espouse, settle (on or upon)
    opposite: decline, refuse, reject, turn down
    near: disapprove, negative, repudiate, spurn, discard, jettison, throw away, throw out

  5. to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for

    "I'll take two cheeseburgers to go, please"

    similar: buy, cop (slang), pick up, purchase
    related: acquire, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure, win, finance, pay (for), spring (for), barter (for), deal (for), dicker (over), exchange (for), haggle (for), negotiate (about), trade (for), bargain (with), chaffer (with), horse-trade (with), palter (with), bid, offer, rebuy, repurchase
    near: deal (in), market, merchandise, retail, sell, vend

  6. to have as a requirement

    "it will take a lot of courage to stand up for what is right"

    similar: bear, challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, need, require, want, warrant, call for
    related: entail, involve, ask, beg, clamor (for), cry (for), hurt (for), lack, command, enjoin, exact, insist, press, quest, stipulate
    opposite: have, hold
    near: own, possess

  7. to make or have room for

    "I think we can take two more in this elevator"

    similar: accommodate, fit, hold
    related: carry, contain, seat, enclose, encompass, enfold, harbor, house

  8. to produce a desired effect

    "it will be a few hours before this medication takes"

    similar: act, operate, perform, work, take effect, take hold
    related: behave, react, respond, affect, influence, sway, pan out, redound, result
    near: backfire, fizzle

  9. to put up with (something painful or difficult)

    "I can't take anymore of your whining about your former boyfriend"

    similar: abide, absorb, accept, bear, bide (chiefly dialect), brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, tolerate, wear (British), live with, lump (it), stand for, tough it out
    related: allow, permit, suffer, swallow, reconcile (to), acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)
    near: decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down, combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist, avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

  10. to regard as right or true

    "I think we can take his word for it"

    similar: accept, believe, buy, credit, swallow, trust, set store by
    related: account, accredit, understand, assume, presume, suppose, conclude, deduce, infer
    opposite: disbelieve, discredit, reject
    near: distrust, doubt, misdoubt, mistrust, question, suspect, challenge, dispute

  11. to achieve a victory over

    "I know we can take that team"

    similar: beat, best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

  12. to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently

    "let's take each problem separately"

    similar: address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, treat, come to grips with, have a grip on
    related: engineer, finesse, jockey, bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull, command, direct, guide, steer, control, micromanage, regulate, run, react (to), respond (to)
    near: botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp

  13. to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to

    "the school takes only a small percentage of the thousands of applicants"

    similar: admit, enter, receive
    related: entertain, welcome, fellowship, confirm, ratify
    opposite: ban, bar
    near: decline, disallow, disapprove, dismiss, refuse, reject, blackball, blacklist, ostracize, banish, deport, exile, expel, oust, throw out

  14. to deprive of life

    "I never thought heart disease would take such an athletic and health-conscious person"

    similar: carry off, claim, croak (slang), destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, kill, slay, do away with, do for (chiefly British), make away with
    related: bump off, butcher, cut down, finish, get, ice (slang), knock off, murder, neutralize, off (slang), put away, rub out, scrag, snuff, take out, waste, whack (slang), annihilate, blot out, decimate, kill off, massacre, mow, slaughter, smite, assassinate, execute, martyr, terminate, euthanize, put down, suicide
    opposite: animate
    near: raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive, nurture

Related Entry: Whip (verb)

Whip is a different word from Shape. The synonyms below are for whip, not for shape.

  1. to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible

    "whipped the animal when it did not move fast enough to please him"

    similar: birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, scourge, slash, switch, tan, thrash, whale
    related: knout, quirt, strap, cut, flick, touch up, blackjack, cane, club, cudgel, fustigate, pistol-whip, bang, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, cuff, hit, knock, lam, paste, punch, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thwack, wallop, whack, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, bludgeon, buffet, bung, drub, fib (British), hammer, lace, lambaste, lather, lick, mangle, maul, paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, rough, slate, slog, thresh, thump, tromp, whop, whup, work over

  2. to defeat by a large margin

    "we whipped them 13-0 in the last game"

    similar: annihilate, blow away, bomb, bury, clobber, cream, drub, dust, flatten, paste, rout, shellac, skin, skunk, smoke (slang), smother, snow under, thrash, trim, tromp, trounce, wallop, wax (slang), whomp, whop, whup, beat the pants off, eat alive, run circles around, wipe the floor with
    related: sweep, upset, beat, best, conquer, dispatch, hurdle, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), subdue, surmount, take, throw, triumph (over), win (against), worst, crush, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, overwhelm, subjugate, upend, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, break, destroy, do in, finish, sink, slaughter

  3. to change the course or direction of (something)

    "any more complaints and I'm whipping this car around and heading back home"

    similar: deflect, divert, redirect, swing, turn, veer, wheel
    related: avert, deviate, move, rechannel, shift, shunt, sidetrack, swerve, switch, transfer, swivel, twist, whirl, zigzag, bend, curve, sway, reverse, turn back

  4. to move or cause to move with a striking motion

    "her hair whipped in the wind"

    similar: beat, flail, flap, flop, flutter
    related: bang, batter, buffet, knock, pound, smack, spank, thump, flick, flicker, flit, fan, oscillate, sway, swing, undulate, wave, palpitate, pulse, throb

  5. to strike repeatedly

    "huge raindrops whipped the windows"

    similar: bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whop, whup, work over, beat up on
    related: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate

Related Entry: Whip (up) (verb)

Whip (up) is a different word from Shape. The synonyms below are for whip (up), not for shape.

  1. to bring (something volatile or intense) into being

    "whipped up protests against the proposed amendment to the state's constitution"

    similar: abet, brew, ferment, foment, incite, instigate, pick, provoke, raise, stir (up), set in motion
    related: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, sow, stimulate, detonate, set, set off, trigger, excite, galvanize, inflame, inspire, motivate, rouse, activate, energize, enliven, fire, invigorate, jazz (up), liven (up), pep (up), quicken, vitalize
    near: bridle, check, constrain, curb, discourage, hold, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain, tame, allay, calm, quiet, settle, soothe, still, subdue, tranquilize

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Shape

The most common words with a similar meaning to Shape:

British: nick
condition, estate, fettle, form, health, keeping, kilter, order, repair, trim, cast, configuration, conformation, fashion, figure, geometry, build, constitution, frame, habit, physique, acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adapt, adjust, conform, doctor, edit, fit, put, suit, tailor, arrange, blueprint, budget, calculate, chart, choreograph, design

Related Words for Shape

practice, pass, phase, stage, footing, picture, posture, scene, situation, status, rank, standing, contour, outline, profile, silhouette, framework, shell, skeleton, arrangement, format, layout, makeup, organization, pattern, setup, anatomy, structure, readapt, readjust

Near Antonyms of Shape

disorder, disrepair, composition, material, matter, raw material, stuff, substance, misadjust

Word Forms of Shape

Inflections: shaped, shaping, shapes

Derived words: shaper (noun), shaped (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Shape

Middle English, from Old English sceapen, gescapen, past participle of scieppan; akin to Old High German skepfen to shape

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Shape

Words & Phrases Containing Shape

shape note, shape-shifter, shape-up, shape up, bent out of shape, in shape, lick into shape, take shape

Frequently Asked Questions about Shape

What does "Shape" mean?

"Shape" means form, create; especially, to give a particular form or shape to. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: form, create; especially, to give a particular form or shape to. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Shape"?

Other words for "Shape" include condition, estate, fettle, form, health, keeping, kilter and nick. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Shape" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Shape"?

There are 155 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Shape". Common alternatives include condition, estate, fettle, form, health, keeping, kilter, nick, order and repair.

How do you use "Shape" in a sentence?

Examples of "Shape" in a sentence: "she was in good shape after having worked outdoors all summer long"; "that part of the state is known as the panhandle because of its shape"; "some specialty clothing stores sell clothing that suits people that have a particular shape".

Is "Shape" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Shape" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Shape" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Shape" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Shape"?

"Shape" is pronounced /ˈshāp/.

What is the origin of the word "Shape"?

"Shape" comes from Middle English, from Old English sceapen, gescapen, past participle of scieppan; akin to Old High German skepfen to shape. First known use: before 12th centuryt.