What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mold
Example
She poured the melted chocolate into the mold and waited for it to harden. [mold: noun]
Example
The artist carefully molded the clay into a beautiful sculpture. [molded: verb]
Example
The bread had gone bad and was covered in green mold. [mold: noun]
shape
Example
The vase had a unique shape that caught her eye. [shape: noun]
Example
He used his hands to shape the dough into a perfect circle. [shaped: verb]
Example
The shadow of the tree cast an interesting shape on the wall. [shape: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shape is more commonly used than mold in everyday language. Shape is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mold is less common and refers to a specific type of shaping process.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mold and shape?
Both mold and shape are relatively neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.