shipshape

American  

[ship-sheyp] / ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp /

adjective

1. in good order; well-arranged; trim or tidy.

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adverb

1. in a shipshape manner.

shipshape British  

/ ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp /

adjective

1. neat; orderly

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adverb

1. in a neat and orderly manner

Etymology

Origin of shipshape

First recorded in 1635–45; ship ¹ + shape

Example Sentences

Two months later, on Nov. 15, 1856, Neptune’s Car, gleaming and shipshape, enters the harbor of San Francisco.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

The other park, not far up the coast, was as perky and clean-cut as a barbershop quartet, painted the colors of sand and sky, with shipshape and jaunty ocean-inspired adventures, and zippy, futuristic, razzle-dazzle rides.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2025

And the repair bill to get the water-damaged structure shipshape was $1.3 million.

From Slate • Jul. 13, 2023

But there is a catch: Taxpayers are paying millions to keep the yachts shipshape.

From Washington Post • Feb. 5, 2023

All that afternoon Stuart worked on the canoe, adjusting ballast, filling seams, and getting everything shipshape for the morrow.

From "Stuart Little" by E.B. White