sift

verb

ˈsift 

sifted; sifting; sifts

transitive verb

1

a

: to put through a sieve

sift flour

b

: to separate or separate out by or as if by putting through a sieve

2

: to go through especially to sort out what is useful or valuable

sifted the evidence

—often used with through

sift through a pile of old letters

3

: to scatter by or as if by sifting

sift sugar on a cake

intransitive verb

1

: to use a sieve

2

: to pass or fall as if through a sieve

sifter noun

Examples of sift in a Sentence

Sift the flour into a mixing bowl.

Sift the lumps from the sugar.

The police sifted the evidence in hopes of finding a clue.

The police sifted for clues.

The lawyer sifted through the hundreds of pages of testimony.

Firefighters sifted through the debris.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lynn Reaser, economist NO: AI is able to sift through massive amounts of data to find patterns and insights at speeds previously thought unimaginable. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2024

Time Out editors sifted through the results, including the highest-scoring city for each country in the resulting ranking. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024

Barron is one of numerous faith leaders sifting through the rubble left by the rise and rapid decline of a particularly anti-religious movement in the previous decades. —Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 12 May 2024

Users can sift through Colorado trails with an array of helpful filters, including wheelchair accessibility. —Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English siftan; akin to Old English sife sieve

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

sift

verb

ˈsift 

1

a

: to put through a sieve

sift flour

b

: to separate or separate out by or as if by putting through a sieve

2

: to go through especially to sort out what is useful or valuable

sift evidence

sift through a pile of papers

sifter noun