shape-up

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(shāp′up′)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
shape-up  (shāp′up′),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. an act or instance of shaping up.
  2. a former method of hiring longshoremen in which the applicants appeared daily at the docks and a union hiring boss chose those who would be given work.
Also, shape′up′. 
  • noun, nominal use of verb, verbal phrase shape up 1940–45

'shape-up' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
gi - shape - shape up - ship - snap

Forum discussions with the word(s) "shape-up" in the title:


Look up "shape-up" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "shape-up" at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!

Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.