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Meaning & use

shaping

noun, verb·Academic

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UK/ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/
US/ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The act of giving something a particular physical form by cutting, bending or pressing it.

    Grammar: Mostly uncountable, often followed by of: the shaping of clay.

    Patterns

    • the shaping of something

    The shaping of the pottery takes patience.

    Careful shaping of the wood gave the chair its curved back.

    The sculptor spent days on the shaping of the face.

  2. noununcountablefigurative

    The process of influencing how something develops, such as a person, opinion or event.

    Grammar: Uncountable and followed by of: the shaping of public opinion.

    Patterns

    • the shaping of something

    Teachers play a big part in the shaping of young minds.

    The shaping of the city's identity took centuries.

    Social media is central to the shaping of public opinion.

  3. verbtransitive

    Giving something a form, or influencing how it develops.

    Grammar: -ing form of shape; it needs an object: shaping the dough.

    Patterns

    • shaping something

    She is shaping the dough into small loaves.

    Experiences in childhood are shaping who he becomes.

Word forms

base formshape
-ing formshaping

Common combinations

shaping of public opinion
The press plays a role in the shaping of public opinion.
shaping the future
Young voters are shaping the future of the town.
shaping policy
Experts are shaping policy on climate change.
shaping of identity
Language is central to the shaping of identity.
careful shaping
Careful shaping gives the bread its crust.

Synonyms and how they differ

forming
Forming is broader and can mean bringing something into existence, while shaping suggests adjusting a form that already exists.
molding
Molding stresses pressing material into a form or slowly influencing a person, while shaping is more general.
influencing
Influencing is abstract and does not suggest giving a clear form.

Opposites

destroying

Word family

shape noun
the outer form of something
shape verb
to give a form to something
shaped adjective
having a particular form
shapeless adjective
without a clear form
shaper noun
a person or tool that shapes

Commonly confused: shaping or shaping up?

shaping vs shaping up

Shaping up is a phrasal verb meaning developing in a particular way, as in the plan is shaping up well; it differs from simply shaping something.

Practice

Teachers play a vital role in the ___ of a child's attitudes.

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