shape
noun
the quality of a distinct object or body in having an external surface or outline of specific form or figure.
was shaping
-
past progressiveof shape.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
England's path to the final was shaping up as Norway in the quarter-finals, then Egypt, Switzerland or Colombia in the last four if they got through.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
A few months ago, a broader move into old-economy stocks and other less tech-y corners of the market was shaping up to be the story of 2026.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
It was shaping up to be an expensive year for me: My then-2-year-old had already had an emergency room visit.
From Slate ● Apr. 25, 2026
In a conversation I had with Loyola Marymount University’s Fernando Guerra, a decades-long observer of the local political scene, he made this observation about the dull political season that was shaping up:
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2026
Some ugly patches mixed in here and there but, overall, it was shaping up to look like a mismatched jumble of better than perfect.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
