take shape
idiomatic phrase
: to assume a definite or distinctive form : to develop and become apparent or established
The plan is finally taking shape.
Edison's tireless work habits took shape during his childhood …—
Paul Gray
Paul GrayThe proto-planetary fragments crashed together, coalesced by gravity, and crashed again into other fragments, until they gradually took shape as the planets we know today.—M. Mitchell Waldrop
M. Mitchell Waldrop… the first half of the century, before the modern medical system took shape.—Geoffrey Cowley
Geoffrey CowleyExamples of take shape in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
McMillan said a plan for the horse already is taking shape.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024
As the controversy took shape on social media Thursday, Mura’s mother, Laurie Carmichael, shared a family statement to the community in a public Facebook post.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2024
Advertisement Gordon’s business model immediately took shape: Sleep in the ambulance at night and rent it out to film and television shoots during the day.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
Other protests have taken shape, and since last week, demonstrations have swept across Arizona.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
In the summer heat, the war in Chechnya takes shape, while her grandparents’ relationship falls apart.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 May 2024
When Obamacare was taking shape, some lawmakers envisioned a public option — a government-run plan that would compete alongside private insurance.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 20 Apr. 2024
As local leaders’ ambitions to host the Olympics took shape, so did plans to dramatically expand the region’s rail network in time for the Games.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Modern Ethiopia only began to take shape in the 1860s, when a capable military entrepreneur defeated or intimidated his rivals and centralized power.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024
As the controversy took shape on social media Thursday, Mura’s mother, Laurie Carmichael, shared a family statement to the community in a public Facebook post.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2024
Advertisement Gordon’s business model immediately took shape: Sleep in the ambulance at night and rent it out to film and television shoots during the day.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
Other protests have taken shape, and since last week, demonstrations have swept across Arizona.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
In the summer heat, the war in Chechnya takes shape, while her grandparents’ relationship falls apart.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 May 2024
When Obamacare was taking shape, some lawmakers envisioned a public option — a government-run plan that would compete alongside private insurance.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 20 Apr. 2024
As local leaders’ ambitions to host the Olympics took shape, so did plans to dramatically expand the region’s rail network in time for the Games.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Modern Ethiopia only began to take shape in the 1860s, when a capable military entrepreneur defeated or intimidated his rivals and centralized power.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take shape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Take shape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20shape. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
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