take shape

Idioms

Also, shape up. Turn out, develop, acquire a distinctive form, as in Her reelection campaign is already taking shape, two years before the election, or Can you tell us how the book is shaping up? The first term dates from the mid-1700s and the variant, originally put as shape out, from about 1600.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That evening the co-founders discussed the idea with their families and CarryMen began to take shape.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Meanwhile the international military force intended to secure the enclave has yet to take shape, and a technocratic committee that was supposed to oversee daily governance has yet to enter Gaza.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

As the future of quantum computing starts to take shape, there are plenty of ways to play it.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

As research at the site continues, scientists expect even more discoveries that could deepen our understanding of how human society first began to take shape.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

My plan for a new law project to represent people on death row in Alabama was starting to take shape.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

take shape

Example Sentences

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