English Reference
adjective · verb

shaped

adj. · v.
US /ˈʃeɪpt/ UK /ʃˈeɪpt/ shaped

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.having a particular physical form or outline.

    adj.possessing a defined physical form or contour; often used to describe items that have been deliberately moulded.

    Simple

    The artist displayed several beautifully shaped clay pots on the wooden shelf.

    In context

    The carefully shaped hedges provided a structured border for the formal garden, contrasting with the wilder meadows beyond.

    formedmouldedcontoured
    shapelessformless
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    adj.used with another word to describe what something looks like.

    adj.used in combination with nouns to indicate a resemblance in outline or form.

    Simple

    She gave her mother a heart-shaped box of chocolates for her birthday.

    In context

    The architect designed a U-shaped courtyard to ensure that every office in the building received a sufficient amount of natural light.

    Usage

    Always used as a suffix with a hyphen, such as 'heart-shaped' or 'U-shaped'.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to have influenced how something developed or to have made something into a certain form.

    v.the past tense and past participle of 'shape', referring to the act of giving form to material or influencing the development of an idea.

    Simple

    His early experiences in the army shaped his views on leadership.

    In context

    The philosopher's theories were shaped by the political instability of the era, leading to a focus on social order and security.

The tradition shaped Trawally’s family long before she understood its meaning.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026

In short, these cases have shaped modern environmental law.

The Conversation· 3 Aug 2026

From Middle English schaped, ischaped, equivalent to shape + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English schaped
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated