Antonyms for take shape


Grammar : Verb
Spell : sheyp
Phonetic Transcription : ʃeɪp


Definition of take shape

Origin :
  • Old English scapan, past participle of scieppan "to create, form, destine" (past tense scop), from Proto-Germanic *skapjanan "create, ordain" (cf. Old Norse skapa, Danish skabe, Old Saxon scapan, Old Frisian skeppa, Middle Dutch schappen "do, treat," Old High German scaffan, German schaffen "shape, create, produce"), from PIE root *(s)kep- a base forming words meaning "to cut, scrape, hack" (see scabies), which acquired broad technical senses and in Germanic a specific sense of "to create."
  • Old English scieppan survived into Middle English as shippen, but shape emerged as a regular verb (with past tense shaped) by 1500s. The old past participle form shapen survives in misshapen. Middle English shepster (late 14c.) "dressmaker, female cutter-out," is literally "shape-ster," from Old English scieppan.
  • Meaning "to form in the mind" is from late 14c. Phrase Shape up (v.) is literally "to give form to by stiff or solid material;" attested from 1865 as "progress;" from 1938 as "reform;" shape up or ship out is attested from 1956, originally U.S. military slang, with the sense being "do right or get shipped up to active duty."
  • As in jell : verb coagulate
  • As in loom : verb appear, often imposingly
  • As in materialize : verb come into being
  • As in crystallize : verb become settled
  • As in form : verb come into being; arise
Example sentences :
  • All this and far, far more than could ever take shape in words.
  • Extract from : « The Golden Woman » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • A plan was beginning to take shape in my head, but I didn't rush it.
  • Extract from : « The Misplaced Battleship » by Harry Harrison (AKA Henry Maxwell Dempsey)
  • In it the ideas and the desires by which nations live must be made to take shape.
  • Extract from : « The Psychology of Nations » by G.E. Partridge
  • The significance of these things was beginning to take shape in his mind.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Paw » by E. Phillips Oppenheim
  • If the horror which was gripping her throat should not take shape!
  • Extract from : « Masterpieces of Mystery In Four Volumes » by Various
  • It seemed to take shape and expression, as she gazed, until it grew familiar.
  • Extract from : « Shapes that Haunt the Dusk » by Various
  • It is good to see the young trees acquire size and take shape.
  • Extract from : « The Apple-Tree » by L. H. Bailey
  • Such thoughts as these did not take shape distinctly in her mind.
  • Extract from : « The Octopus » by Frank Norris
  • He does not give it a name—he scarce dares let it take shape in his thoughts.
  • Extract from : « The Lone Ranche » by Captain Mayne Reid
  • Politics must take shape in the upper strata and work downwards.
  • Extract from : « The Jewish State » by Theodor Herzl

Synonyms for take shape

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019