Definitions

shape up

[sheyp-uhp] / ˈʃeɪpˌʌp /

VERB

accommodate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adapt adjust fit integrate modify

STRONG

accord accustom agree attune comply compose conform coordinate correspond harmonize proportion reconcile settle suit tailor tailor-make tune

WEAK

bend over backwards don't make waves don't rock the boat go by the book go with the flow make consistent play the game

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disarrange disorder unfit

STRONG

decline deny differ disagree fight mismatch oppose refuse reject upset

WEAK

bar block frustrate hinder impede limit obstruct prevent stop turn away turn out unsuit

VERB

adapt

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acclimate accommodate accustom alter comply conform fit modify prepare readjust revise shape suit tailor

STRONG

change familiarize fashion habituate harmonize make match qualify reconcile remodel square

WEAK

come around get act together get used to grow used to play the game roll with punches

Antonyms

STRONGEST

neglect refuse reject

STRONG

disagree

WEAK

disarrange dislocate disorder disturb unfit

VERB

arrange

Synonyms

STRONGEST

construct decide design determine draft establish lay out manage negotiate organize prepare promote provide resolve schedule tailor work out

STRONG

adapt adjust blueprint chart compromise concert contrive devise direct frame harmonize project quarterback scheme settle

WEAK

agree to come to terms get act together get ready hammer out a deal iron out line up make a connection make ready map out pull a wire pull things together set stage work out a deal

Antonyms

STRONGEST

destroy disorder disorganize hesitate neglect ruin waver

STRONG

confuse disagree disarrange unfit upset

WEAK

derange disperse disturb mix up not plan scatter

VERB

behave

Synonyms

STRONGEST

manage

STRONG

control direct

WEAK

act correctly act one's age act with decorum be civil be good be nice be on best behavior be orderly comport oneself conduct oneself properly demean oneself deport oneself discipline oneself keep one's nose clean keep the peace live up to manage oneself mind one's manners mind one's p's and q's observe golden rule observe the law play fair toe the mark watch one's step

Antonyms

WEAK

act up misbehave

VERB

comply

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquiesce adhere to give in give up obey observe quit satisfy submit

STRONG

accede accord defer discharge ditto fold fulfill keep mind perform respect yield

WEAK

agree to cave in come around conform to consent to cry uncle don't make waves don't rock the boat fit in give out go along with go with the flow knuckle to knuckle under play ball play the game put out roll over and play dead stay in line straighten up throw in towel toss it in yes one

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disobey dissuade

STRONG

condemn deny disallow disapprove fail ignore neglect oppose prevent refuse withhold

WEAK

decline rebuff reject resist

VERB

condition

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accustom brainwash educate

STRONG

equip habituate inure modify practice program ready sharpen train

WEAK

build up loosen up make ready tone up toughen up warm up whip into shape work out work over

Antonyms

STRONG

forget neglect

VERB

conform

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accommodate attune comply coordinate fit harmonize integrate reconcile tailor yield

STRONG

follow keep mind obey observe proportion square suit tailor-make tune

WEAK

be guided by clean up act don't make waves don't rock the boat fall in with follow beaten path follow the crowd go by the book go with the flow make room meet halfway move over play the game quadrate reconciliate roll with punches run with the pack straighten up toe the line

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deny disagree oppose prevent refuse reject

STRONG

disobey disregard forget ignore neglect

WEAK

differ fight mismatch not correspond

VERB

coordinate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agree harmonize integrate organize regulate

STRONG

accommodate adjust combine conduce conform correlate mesh pool proportion quarterback reconcile synchronize systematize

WEAK

atune get it together get one's act together pull together reconciliate team up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disagree disorganize

STRONG

confuse differ disarrange disconnect disorder divide refuse separate unsuit

WEAK

disintegrate mismatch uncoordinate unrelate

VERB

correct

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alter amend cure improve mend rectify redress regulate remediate remedy repair review revise straighten out upgrade

STRONG

ameliorate better change debug doctor edit emend help launder polish reclaim reconstruct reform remodel reorganize retouch right scrub

WEAK

clean up clean up act do over fiddle with fix up get with it go over make over make right make up for pay dues pick up put in order set right set straight touch up turn around

Antonyms

STRONGEST

break damage depress destroy harm hurt injure maintain remain ruin weaken worsen

WEAK

be permissive blow blunder coddle goof indulge mistake pamper pet spoil

VERB

form

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquire appear develop set

STRONG

accumulate condense crystallize eventuate grow harden materialize mature rise settle

WEAK

become a reality become visible fall into place show up take on character take shape

Antonyms

STRONGEST

end halt

STRONG

decline decrease lessen

WEAK

break destroy hurt kill neglect ruin

VERB

groom

Synonyms

STRONGEST

comb educate prim tend

STRONG

brush clean coach curry dress drill nurture preen prep prime primp ready refine refresh sleek tidy train

WEAK

lick into shape make attractive make presentable pretty up put through grind put through mill rub down slick up smarten up spiff up spruce up turn out

Antonyms

STRONG

damage dirty forget mess up neglect ruin

WEAK

ignore

VERB

improve

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advance better boost correct develop enhance help increase lift progress promote raise recover reform revamp revise rise upgrade

STRONG

ameliorate amend augment civilize convalesce cultivate edit elevate emend meliorate mend polish purify rally rectify recuperate refine sharpen skyrocket update

WEAK

come around doctor up gain ground look up make strides perk up pick up set right straighten out take off touch up turn the corner

Antonyms

STRONGEST

blow decline decrease demote depress descend deteriorate diminish drop halt hinder hurt lessen lose lower recede reduce repress retreat retrogress stop worsen

STRONG

corrupt damage destroy dirty dull pollute ruin weaken

WEAK

harm injure

VERB

inculcate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

impart indoctrinate instill

STRONG

brainwash communicate drill educate impress inseminate instruct plant program teach

WEAK

break down drum into hammer into work over

Antonyms

STRONG

learn neglect

VERB

look up

Synonyms

WEAK

advance ameliorate come along convalesce gain get better mend perk up pick up progress recuperate show improvement

Antonyms

WEAK

decline wing it worsen

VERB

neaten

Synonyms

STRONG

arrange clean groom order

WEAK

clear the decks fix up put in good shape put in order spruce up straighten up whip into shape

Antonyms

STRONG

disorder disorganize mix up

VERB

progress

Synonyms

STRONGEST

blossom boost develop grow mature

STRONG

ameliorate better gain increase truck upgrade

WEAK

become better make first rate straighten up turn over new leaf

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decrease halt lessen stop

STRONG

lose worsen

WEAK

back up decline deteriorate retreat retrogress

VERB

rally

Synonyms

STRONG

enliven improve invigorate recover recuperate refresh surge

WEAK

bounce back brace up come along come around come from behind get act together get back in shape get better get second wind grow stronger make a comeback perk up pick up pull through regain strength snap out of it turn around turn things around

Antonyms

STRONG

bore damage decline deteriorate dull enervate worsen

WEAK

disperse divide lose regress scatter weaken

VERB

rectify

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amend fix improve redress remedy straighten out

STRONG

adjust debug doctor emend launder mend reform remediate repair revise right scrub square

WEAK

clean up clean up act dial back fix up go over make good make up for pay one's dues pick up put right recalibrate straighten up turn things around

Antonyms

STRONGEST

corrupt harm hurt injure worsen

STRONG

break destroy ruin upset

WEAK

damage

VERB

reform

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amend improve rebuild rehabilitate remake renovate reorganize repair resolve restore revise revolutionize standardize transform

STRONG

ameliorate better convert correct cure emend mend rearrange reclaim reconstitute reconstruct redeem refashion regenerate remedy remodel renew rework uplift

WEAK

bring up to code change one's ways clean up clean up one's act go straight make amends make over swear off turn over a new leaf

Antonyms

STRONGEST

break damage destroy harm hurt injure ruin waver worsen

STRONG

abandon forfeit kill

WEAK

impair

VERB

regulate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adjust administer balance classify conduct control coordinate determine govern handle improve monitor oversee readjust rectify standardize supervise

STRONG

adapt allocate arrange correct direct dispose fit fix guide legislate measure moderate modulate order reconcile rule run set settle square superintend systematize temper time true tune

WEAK

methodize pull things together put in order straighten up tune up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

damage mismanage neglect obey waver worsen

STRONG

confuse disagree disarrange disorder disorganize displace disturb halt leave misguide mislead mix up serve soften unsettle upset

WEAK

deregulate

VERB

remedy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate ameliorate amend assuage correct mitigate rectify redress relieve restore solve straighten out

STRONG

aid attend change control debug doctor ease heal help launder palliate reform remediate renew repair revise right scrub soothe square treat upgrade

WEAK

clean up clean up one's act fiddle with fix up go over make up for pick up put right recalibrate set right set to rights square up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate damage harm hurt increase injure intensify upset worsen

STRONG

block break hinder ignore neglect obstruct remain stay stop

WEAK

get sick

VERB

right

Synonyms

STRONG

adjust amend balance debug doctor emend launder mend overhaul patch recompense recondition reconstruct rectify redress repair restore reward scrub settle square straighten vindicate

WEAK

clean up compensate for dial back do justice fiddle with fix up go straight make up for pick up put in place put right recalibrate set straight set upright sort out straighten out turn around

Antonyms

STRONG

break confuse damage destroy harm hurt injure move punish ruin upset worsen

WEAK

wrong

VERB

systematize

Synonyms

STRONG

arrange array contrive design devise dispose establish frame institute marshal order organize plan project rationalize regulate schematize standardize systemize

WEAK

get act together make uniform methodize pull together straighten up tighten up

Antonyms

STRONG

confuse destroy disarrange disorder disorganize disturb mismanage mix up prevent ruin stop

VERB

systemize

Synonyms

STRONG

arrange array contrive design devise dispose establish frame institute marshal organize plan project rationalize regulate schematize standardize

WEAK

get act together make uniform methodize pull together straighten up tighten up

Antonyms

STRONG

confuse destroy disarrange disorder disorganize disturb mismanage ruin stop

VERB

tailor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accommodate adapt alter conform fit modify

STRONG

convert custom-make cut dovetail fashion mold quadrate reconcile shape square style suit tailor-make

WEAK

cut to fit make to order

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disarrange

STRONG

disagree refuse

VERB

tidy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fix up spruce spruce up

STRONG

clean frame groom neaten order police straighten tauten

WEAK

clear the decks get act together pull together put in good shape put in order put in shape put to rights straighten up whip into shape

Antonyms

WEAK

dirty dishevel disorder disorganize jumble litter

VERB

trig

Synonyms

STRONG

clean frame groom order police spruce trim

WEAK

clear the decks fix up freshen get act together neaten pull together put in good shape put in order put in shape put to rights slick up spruce up straighten straighten up tauten whip into shape

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.

See Examples For:

shape up

"It's really, really big news. Our country has to shape up," he added.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

In Brontë’s book, Isabella marries Heathcliff naively believing he might shape up into a gentleman and flees with their son when she realizes that is out of the question.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026

New contractors like Anduril will make a difference, especially if Congress prods the Pentagon to shape up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

Next year could shape up to be yet another big one for stock investors, analysts say.

From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2025

“Of course, Henry says I need to shape up or ship out.”

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

shape up

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words