# shaping

/ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈeɪpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shaping
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. giving form or influence

noun · CEFR B2

the act of giving something a specific shape, character, or direction.

For teachers: the process of influencing the development or form of something, whether physical or abstract.

- The shaping of the new law took many months of debate.
- The shaping of public opinion was heavily influenced by the media's framing of the economic crisis during the election cycle.

### 2. behavioral training

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a way of teaching a new skill by rewarding every small step toward the final goal.

For teachers: a method of training by which successive approximations of a target behavior are reinforced.

- The trainer used shaping to teach the dog how to open the door.
- Through the process of shaping, the therapist helped the patient gradually overcome their social anxiety by reinforcing increasingly complex interactions.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun in behavioral contexts.

## Examples

- The trainer used shaping to teach the dog to roll over.
- In the classroom, the teacher used shaping by praising the student for writing a single sentence before expecting a full paragraph.
- Behavioral psychologists employ shaping to modify complex human actions, systematically reinforcing incremental progress until the subject masters the final, sophisticated sequence of movements.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.