shape
noun
the quality of a distinct object or body in having an external surface or outline of specific form or figure.
were 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.
I remember clocking how the artists here weren’t just based in L.A.; they were shaping and being shaped by it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
The U.S. trade deficit shrank in August, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, giving a delayed look at how tariffs were shaping international trade flows over the summer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 19, 2025
Demand for advice was so keen that one lawyer, who declined to be identified, said his firm last month held its first client-only seminar on Russia, China and how geopolitics were shaping sanctions and compliance.
From Reuters ● Oct. 13, 2023
“And it shaped who they were, and they were shaping who they were in real time.”
From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2022
Venus was pleased at the way matters were shaping.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
