1
as in to move
to change the place or position of
he shifted the vase closer to the wall so that it wouldn't get knocked over
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2
as in to twitch
to change one's position
she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview
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3
as in to change
to pass from one form, state, or level to another
she watched the aurora in fascination as its colors shifted from green to blue
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4
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return
my brother and I shifted seats just before takeoff so that he could sit by the window
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5
as in to cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs
left the others to shift for themselves
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1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
desperate shifts to stave off financial disaster
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2
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position
made a small shift to the left to make more room on the bench
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shift
Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Jan. 2026
Global tax deal Nearly 150 countries have agreed to a landmark deal to stop large global companies from shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions and impose a minimum 15% global tax.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The participants also showed a shift in their circadian rhythms (sleep/wake cycles) when they were placed on the time-restricted eating schedules, but the associated health impacts are not known.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
The film’s star, Whitney Houston, would deliver a version that became the world’s best-selling single that year, shifting some 25 million copies, and winning several Grammys.
—Noun
Sourdif’s pace, energy and defensive play have been top-notch, with the Capitals controlling 54 percent of scoring chances and outscoring teams 27-15 during his five-on-five shifts.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
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Enrollment Though still growing overall, state economists reported in early January that K-12 enrollment numbers were nearly 42,500 lower than predicted, with signs of continuing downward trends moving forward.—
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Researchers at the University of Manchester, led by Professor Thomas Anthopoulos, have successfully stabilized perovskite solar cells, which could help move the low-cost technology into the global mass market.—
Verb
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At 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, Huff at his best has good bend and some twitch to his game.—
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Their usefulness remains an open question At the back of a conference hall at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas, a humanoid robot twitched through a preprogrammed wave for a crowd of cell phone cameras—a classic scene of high spectacle and unclear utility at CES.—
Verb
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Rather than focusing only on crash performance, safety systems now need to adjust dynamically to changing vehicle states and user behavior.—
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One pro tip is to pack a clean Eclipser Hoody in your pack to change into at the end of a hike for cooling comfort on the drive home.—
Verb
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The families exchanged Christmas cookies as a parting gift.—
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Since this is an Outlet item, it can’t be returned or exchanged—but is bound to sell out fast.—
Verb
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While stars and filmmakers this season tried to cope candidly with questioners, their impact was nonetheless inhibited by the rigors of Oscar rules.—
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While his Altadena home survived, Mark Franco continues to cope with living in a neighborhood forever changed by the Eaton Fire.—
Noun
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Running out of battery mid-flight means missing entertainment and the chance to use apps that help manage nervousness or track turbulence.—
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Manufacturers would also have to provide a means for first responders to access the car from outside when electric power is lost.—
Noun
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Windows remain a talking point — particularly amid a potential acquisition of a legacy studio by a streamer — as does volume and the shifting of moviegoing habits.—
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The shams zip completely closed, so there’s no shifting or falling out of the case.—
Verb
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According to West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Chandan Kumar, officials are also working to help people in nearby villages relocate while wildlife experts attempt to track down the elephant.—
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Cutting, relocating, sprinting into space.—
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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